RIYADH: The first group of Filipino pilgrims, comprising more than 2,000, will start arriving on Aug. 22 in Madinah, according to a National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) representative.

Bashir Tomilang said that members of the first batch would arrive daily until Aug. 27. A total of 8,000 Filipino pilgrims have been scheduled to come to the Kingdom this year.

“So far, this will be the biggest number of Filipino pilgrims coming to the Kingdom to perform Haj,” Tomilang said.

He said that everything has been done to ensure smooth pilgrimage for the pilgrims expected to be headed by NCMF Secretary Yasmin Busran-Lao.

“The Haj Ministry has released the stickers for the pilgrims’ passports. These have been sent to the Philippines,” said Tomilang, who had earlier worked at the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah.

He added that he had also made arrangements with the food caterer as well as for the pilgrims’ accommodations, among others.

Tomilang added that his job was been made easier by the fact that earlier, another NCMF representative, Norodin Lomondot, had come to the Kingdom to coordinate with Saudi authorities regarding the pilgrims’ trip to the Kingdom.

“The Kingdom has made good preparations for this year’s Haj performance. The facilities are also good and the NCMF expresses its thanks and gratitude to the Kingdom,” he said.

He also expressed NCMF’s gratitude for the increase in the Philippine pilgrims’ quota from 6,500 to 8,000.