BARMM officials pledge support for 1,000 indigent pilgrims bound for Mecca

COTABATO CITY — Fourteen members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, including interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua, have pledged financial assistance to enable impoverished residents to undertake the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca later this year. The Bangsamoro Pilgrimage Authority has formalized partnerships with the parliamentary representatives to fund the religious journey for approximately 1,000 indigent Bangsamoro pilgrims scheduled to depart in November. The initiative aims to remove financial barriers that have historically prevented low-income Muslim residents from fulfilling one of Islam's five pillars. Officials did not immediately provide details on the per-pilgrim allocation or selection criteria for beneficiaries. The commitment represents a coordinated effort by BARMM's interim government to support religious observance among economically disadvantaged communities in the autonomous region.