Funds for mosque in Kawit to come from Muslim elite

The Office of the Muslim Affairs will tap Muslim millionaires around the world, like Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam, for the construction of a mosque worth P20 million in Kawit Point, Cebu City.

OMA regional director Sakiran Hajan announced that Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña has already committed to donate the lot where the mosque will rise.

There is no specification, however, as to how many square meters of lot will be donated. But Hajan pointed out that a 1,000-square-meter lot would be ideal.

Since OMA has no funding for the construction of the mosque, Hajan said that they will ask donations from Muslim millionaires from around the world.

He specifically cited Sultan Bolkiah since the Marco Polo Hotel, soon to be constructed in Lapu-Lapu City, is partly owned by the family of the richest sultan in the world.

Other leaders of Muslim countries like the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates will also be tapped.

In Metro Cebu, there are already five mosques but these are small ones. This P20-million mosque in Kawit is set to accommodate at least 500 people. - Mitchelle P. Calipayan