MANILA, Philippines?The Catholic Church will not hold its peace if it has reason to criticize the apparent President-elect, Benigno Aquino III, a bishop said Tuesday.

But at the same time, the church will support Aquino if he is helps the poor and does something good for the public, according to Auxiliary Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of San Fernando, Pampanga.

?When it comes to government programs for the common good, those that serve the poor, they can expect the support of the church. But when it comes to other matters that the church cannot compromise, of course we would be critical,? David said in an interview over Radio Veritas.

He also said he wanted Aquino to make poverty alleviation his top priority. He also wanted the next President to institute new policies that would reduce the need for Filipins to go abroad to find jobs.

He also pushed for moral renewal, peace negotiations for Mindanao, and increased productivity for the countryside.

Other bishops also rattled off to-do lists for Aquino to accomplish when he assumed office as President.

Iloilo Archbishop Angel Lagdameo said he expected the Liberal Party standard-bearer to fulfill his campaign promise of eradicating corruption and helping the poor.

?It?s a very big challenge and a very big promise that he made,? Lagdameo said over Radyo Veritas.

Cotabato Bishop Jose Collin Bagaforo said he expected Aquino to be a point of unity for a divided country.

Aquino should get the polarized people to move forward for the good of the country, Bagaforo added.

At the same time, the new President should, early in his term, focus on the peace-and-order problems plaguing Mindanao and should have a clear program for the region.

The Catholic Bishops also gave their say on how President Macapagal-Arroyo fared during her nine-year term.

David said her major accomplishment was ?staying in power,? followed by her ability to keep majority of Congress loyal to her and keeping her hold on her hometown of Pampanga through her connection with the Pinedas.

Ms Arroyo was threatened with impeachment and beset with calls to resign throughout her term, especially when scandals hounded people close to her.

But David said Ms Arroyo failed in winning the trust of the people, as could be seen by her low credibility rating. She was also unable to prove her innocence in various controversies that hounded her government and to provide for a smooth turnover to the new administration.

He said that by insisting on appointing a new chief justice, she created a rift with the next President.

Bagaforo said among the bad points of the Arroyo administration was her indulgence in patronage politics by rewarding those who have done her favors in the past, including traditional politicians.

But he also found something to praise in her administration, such as her 10-point agenda for improving the government, which he said she has mostly accomplished. He noted that the country's infrastructure and economy are stable.