COTABATO CITY – The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF), after replacing the defunct Office on Muslim Affairs (OMA) this year, launched this week the pilgrimage to Makkah, starting with the umrah (minor hajj) with limited slots.

NCMF Secretary and CEO Bai Omerah Dianalan-Lucman Sunday said the Saudi government has given only 500 visas for prospect umrah goers, whose applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis at the designated registration centers across the country including Metro Manila.

Lucman said only applicants with valid passports would be accepted until July 9 since the processing period for prospect goers without passports elapsed on July 2.

Earlier, Lucman headed a five-man NCMF team to Saudi Arabia and coordinated with concerned officials, agencies and private service providers in the Kingdom for the housing, transportation, food and other requirements of both umrah and hajj pilgrims from the Philippines.

Umrah and hajj are now being rigidly regulated by the Saudi government to avoid repetition of untoward cases involving pilgrims found to have exploited the religious journeys to arbitrarily stay in the oil-rich country to look for jobs.

According to the calendar of activities of the Bureau of Pilgrimage and Endowment (BPE) of the NCMF, the peak of the umrah season covers the months of August and September of this year, which coincides with the observance of the Holy Month of Ramadhan, the fasting month in the Islamic calendar.

As this developed, Lucman lauded the prompt allocation of 500 visas for umrah by the Saudi embassy in the Philippines led by Ambassador Abdullah Al-Hassan.

Initially, the Saudia Airlines has allotted three outbound flights for umrah goers from Manila to the Kingdom on August 21, 22 and 24. The return flights are scheduled on September 12, 14 and 16.

Lucman clarified that under Republic Act (RA) 9997 – the NCMF charter – Filipino pilgrims have the option to avail of flights from other commercial airlines.

Tentatively, Eid’l Fitr, the “feast of sacrifice” and the culmination of the fasting season of Ramadhan, falls on September 9, 2010.

Hence, the NCMF would want to make the coming umrah a resounding success, it being among its major thrust its creation early this year, Lucman said.

Lucman said the cost of this year’s umrah is $1,928 including the round-trip fare of $1,154 and $774 mutawiff fee, which covers housing accommodations in Makkah and Madinah, local transportation expenses in going to Madina bank charges, murshid (ritual guide) and visa processing fees.

Lucman said the NCMF has earlier requested for a reduction in the umrah but the concerned institutions have not yet responded to the request.

But she assured that the billeting places of Filipino umrah goers for this year “better and nearer” to the two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah.

“This year’s umrah pilgrimage is a showcase of the NCMF leadership’s thrust to improve the conduct and supervision of the umrah program,” she pointed out.