Ulama Council of Zamboanga Peninsula declares start of Ramadan on March 12
By Liza Jocson
ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Ulama Council of Zamboanga Peninsula declared on Sunday, March 10, the start of the Ramadan on March 12, Tuesday.

“After thorough communication with Ulama around the Philippines unanimously reported that the moon was not sighted,” the Ulama Council posted on their social media account.
“Therefore, Ramadhan 1445-2024 will start on March 12, 2024 upon the declaration of Grand Mufti Abdulbaki Abubakar.”
The start of Ramadan is determined by the sighting of the new moon based on the lunar calendar.
A moon sighting activity was instituted by the Ulama Council of Zamboanga Peninsula on March 10, Sunday, on the RT Lim Boulevard and a beach resort in Barangay Patalon in Zamboanga City’s west coast.
Moon sighters, however, reported that the crescent moon has not been sighted. There were likewise no reports of the moon sighted from Islamic organizations elsewhere, thus, leading to the start of Ramadan on Tuesday.
The holy month of Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, and charity.