MANILA, Philippines – Reproductive health, agriculture, the mining industry, environment concerns and the rural poor are among the crucial topics the country’s Catholic bishops will discuss during their Plenary Assembly this weekend.

Msgr. Pedro Quitorio, the spokesperson of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, and Nueva Vizcaya Bishop Ramon Villena said the 131-strong CBCP might issue statements on the mining industry and reproductive health issues.

Bishops in the provinces have often led campaigns against mining, as shown in the campaign against Australia’s Lafayette Mining Ltd., which owned the Rapu-Rapu mine in Sorsogon province.

Recently, several members of the Catholic community, including CBCP president and Iloilo Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, blamed mining and illegal logging for the flash floods in the provinces that were hit by Typhoon “Frank” recently.

Villena said the bishops would also discuss and possibly issue a statement on reproductive health, saying they have been alarmed by the number of what he considered as “anti-life” bills in Congress.

The Plenary Assembly is CBCP’s highest decision-making body. Composed of active and retired bishops, the Plenary Assembly meets in regular session twice a year, in January and in July.