Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman shared on social media that during a recent early morning flight to Butuan, she witnessed Muslim passengers praying in a corner of the Terminal 2 departure area due to the absence of a dedicated prayer room.
“I later learned that while there’s space at the arrival area, the departure section still doesn’t have a dedicated Muslim prayer room,” she wrote. “Upon gently raising the concern, Mr. Ramon S. Ang and Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon were quick to commit that they will be working on it."
The initiative is in line with the administration’s broader push for inclusivity and cultural sensitivity in public infrastructure. San Miguel Corp., which operates NAIA under a concession agreement, moved quickly to respond to the recommendation.
“Ang galing talaga ni RSA. Wala pang one second, he said yes,” (RSA is really impressive. He said yes in less than a second) the Cabinet member told InsiderPH. “Action agad (He acted right away).”
“Soon, a proper Muslim prayer room will be built at the departure section of NAIA Terminal 2—offering our Muslim travelers a space of peace, dignity, and reflection before their journey,” Pangandaman said.
She thanked Ang and Dizon for their “openness, compassion, and support” in making the country’s premier airport “more inclusive and respectful of all faiths.”
The prayer facility is expected to serve the growing number of Muslim travelers and airport staff, especially as NAIA rolls out major upgrades under new management.
“Alhamdulillah!” Pangandaman concluded.
