Ramadan in PH to start on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026

The holy month of Ramadan will officially begin on Thursday, February 19, after no crescent moon was sighted on Tuesday night, the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos announced.

"The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF), as the national government agency tasked with providing accurate information regarding the concerns and welfare of Muslim Filipinos, hereby announces that , based on the results of the moon sighting activities conducted by the NCMF, in coordination with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Darul Ifta and various Ulama groups, as well as the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the Moon (Hilal) was not sighted," the agency announced.

"As such, it is hereby officially declared that the Ramadhan 1447 Hijrah will commence on Thursday, February 19, 2026," the NCMF added.

Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulrauf Guialani of the Bangsamoro Darul-Ifta’ (BDI) made his announcement at the Shariff Kabuksuan Cultural Complex (SKCC), Bangsamoro Government Center (BGC) after receiving moon sighting reports from teams across the Bangsamoro region and in Manila Bay, General Santos City, and the provinces of Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and Sulu.

“So whoever sights (the new moon of) the month (of Ramadan), let him fast it,” Qur’an’s Surah Al-Baqarah Chapter Two (2) Verse 185 stipulates," the Grand Mufti said.

Moon sighting or hilal sighting marks the start of a new Islamic lunar month. The Islamic calendar follows the moon's cycles, and if no crescent moon is observed, the ongoing month is completed before the next one begins.

In the country, moon sighting was conducted in areas such as Cotabato City and Manila.

Ramadan is the most sacred month of the Islamic calendar, during which Muslims fast from dawn until sunset, and offer prayers in line with the teachings of Islam.

Filipino Muslims mark the first day of the holy month of Ramadan with prayers at the end of the day, the communal breaking of the fast at iftar or the evening meal after sunset is conducted.

Sacred time

"To our Muslim Filipinos and to all our Muslim brothers and sisters living and working across the Philippines, we extend our warmest and most inclusive greetings as we welcome this blessed month of Ramadan. This sacred time reminds us that faith is strengthened through patience, compassion, and sincere devotion. As the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "Whoever fasts during Ramadan with faith and seeking reward, all his past sins will be forgiven" (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)," said NCMF Secretary Sabuddin N. Abdurahim in a statement.

"May this divine promise inspire us to renew our hearts, uplift one another, and walk together in mercy, unity, and peace," he added.

Earlier, the NCMF announced that Muslims working in government offices throughout the country were advised to adopt flexible working hours during the holy month of Ramadan.

The NCMF quoted a 1981 Civil Service resolution, which stated that office hours for Muslims working in government offices during Ramadan will be from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. without noon break and that the difference of two hours will not be counted as under time. — BAP, GMA Integrated News