SOON TO RISE The Iloilo provincial government releases this artist鈥檚 perspective of the Madrasah Education Program facility to be built at the Sara Central Elementary School compound in Sara, Iloilo, using a P6.4-million fund. 鈥擝alita Halin sa Kapitolyo
ILOILO CITY, Philippines 鈥� The Iloilo provincial government has earmarked P6.4 million for the construction of a two-classroom facility for Islamic instruction at the Sara Central Elementary School in Sara town, marking the first school in Western Visayas specifically designed for Muslim students.
The funds for the Madrasah Education Program (MEP) facility were formally turned over during the flag-raising ceremony at the provincial capitol last March 10.
Provincial School Board Secretary Ma. Freda Sabanal-Fajardo and Provincial Administrator Raul Banias handed the check to school principal Nancy Batobalani, Department of Education (DepEd) division coordinator for MEP Liza Balogo; and to Godfrey Sonza, the village chairman of Barangay Poblacion Ilawod in Sara, and the village treasurer, Erlita Frias.
The MEP, which is part of Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.鈥檚 Bulig Eskwela sang Probinsya initiative, would ensure that Muslim learners receive education tailored to their cultural and religious identity.
There were at least 3,000 Muslim residents in the province, mostly belonging to the Iloilo United Muslim Community, said their former spokesperson, Sultan Sammy Hadjimanan, in a 2019 interview with the Philippine 黑料社 Agency. There is no exact number as to how many are currently of school age.
READ: Country鈥檚 first public madrasah opens in Cotabato
The curriculum incorporates Arabic language and Islamic values education, providing students with a strong foundation in Quranic recitation and Islamic teachings.
A provincial government statement emphasized that the MEP is designed to align education with the traditions and interests of Muslim students.
The new facility will include culturally appropriate architecture, with a reading nook or prayer room to accommodate the five daily prayers observed by Muslim students.
For IPs, too
The province also alloted P8 million to construct a School of Living Traditions (SLT) at the Fernandez Perez Memorial High School in Barangay Datagan, Calinog town.
The two-story SLT building will include an open stage for cultural performances, a gallery to showcase indigenous artifacts, and spaces dedicated to indigenous people鈥檚 (IP) elders. It will be a learning hub for IP traditions and can also function as an evacuation center during calamities.
Fajardo also revealed a proposal to name the school after Federico Caballero, a national living treasure and renowned epic chanter of the Sulod-Bukidnon tribe, who died on Aug. 17, 2024.
Both projects are part of the province鈥檚 commitment to inclusive and culturally relevant education, ensuring that both Muslim and IP learners have access to schooling that respects their heritage.