Kusug Tausug partylist Rep. Shernee Tan has sought the passage of a bill requiring the allotment of at least two places of worship or prayer rooms in all government and private establishments, where employees, visitors, and customers can freely practice their religious beliefs.
Under House Bill No. 7043, she called for the “mandatory” establishment of prayer rooms in every government building, military camp, hospital, and privately-owned mall, factory, hospital, and other big business establishments.
“Although our Constitution explicitly mandates the inviolability of the separation of Church and State, the same fundamental law of the land clearly guarantees the free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession, without discrimination or preference,” Tan said.
She observed that practically, all government buildings, military camps, hospitals, and even in privately-owned malls, large factories, hospitals, and other big business establishments house a Roman Catholic chapel.
“It is worthy to note that although the provision of the Catholic chapels in privately-owned business establishments is voluntary on their part, this clearly discriminates against their employees and customers, who belong to other religious faith like the Islam and other non-sectarian organisations as there is no place for them to practice their faith,” she pointed out.
Tan cited that in the United States, the 1964 Civil Rights Act provides that an employer may not discriminate against a person because one adheres to a particular faith, and that employers must accommodate an employee’s religious practices unless doing so would cause undue hardship to the employer.
“On the basis of this law, there have been growing number of corporations, which are modifying their rules and procedure to show sensitivity to the increasing number of Muslim employees and customers. For instance, Waltermark Donut Co., a franchise for Dunkin’s Donuts, has provided religious accommodation for its Muslim employees the opportunity to perform the five daily prayers,” she said.
She explained that unlike other religious, Muslim religious practices regard them as compulsory religious duties.
“Islam mandates the believers perform prayer five times each day. During act of worship, Muslim stand, bow, and touch the forehead to the ground. Since worship is to be performed in any quiet, dry, and clean place, a prayer room is necessary for some measure of privacy,” Tan said.
HB 7043 tasks the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF), in consultation with the Civil Service Commission (CSC), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of National Defense (DND), and a representative from the business sector, to formulate the implementing rules and regulations of the proposed Act, within 60 days from its approval.
Violators of the proposed Act shall be slapped with a penalty of one-year imprisonment or a fine equivalent to six month-salary or both at the discretion of the court.
The penalty shall be imposed upon the highest official of the Department or office concerned, or if a juridical person, the chairman or president of the corporation, the bill provides.
Tan also earlier filed House Resolution No. 1012, calling on Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano to provide a prayer room for believers of Islam in the premises of the Batasang Pambansa Complex.
She said as a "revered institution", the House of Representatives should advocate for the free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession, without discrimination or preference.
She expressed hope that Cayetano would give in to her proposal, believing that the Lower Chamber “does not curtail the free exercise of religion.”