News Briefs

PALMA: PATIENCE ON IMPEACH TRIAL

THE Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) called on the public to refrain from making sweeping opinions on the impeachment proceedings of Chief Justice Renato Corona and respect the process of the trial.

Two weeks ago, CBCP held its first assembly for this year in Manila with its new president, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma.

“We have to respect the institutional process and put our trust in the Senate. We are not lawyers who can asses the hearing,” Palma said.

Aside from the impeachment, they also discussed the calamities that hit the country and the strengthening of evangelization of the Catholic flock.

Palma said the flock should continue to pray for faith and guidance as the  impeachment proceedings  unfold and pray for justice and truth to come out.

“We should pray so people will be guided especially for those who are directly involved,” he said.

He hopes that the impeachment would end with a clear result and that the public and  government leaders should learn something from it.

“We have to learn and realize the good that this event will bring for the community,” he said in an interview last Monday during the birthday celebration of Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal.

Palma said aside from political matters, the public needs to be reminded that  the CBCP gathers mainly  to make plans and programs for pastoral ministry./reporter Candeze R. Mongaya

GWEN PROJECT GUIDELINES

THE daughter of Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia lawyer presented a rough draft of guidebooks and recommendations for the institutionalization of the projects and programs that her mother initiated during her three terms as governor.

Christina Codilla-Frasco, one of Garcia’s consultants, presented the drafts before department heads and her mother last Monday.

Some of the programs and projects for institutionalization include Suroy-Suroy sa Sugbo, Pasigarbo sa Sugbo, Museo sa Sugbo, Expanded Greening and Wholesome Environment that Nurtures (eGwen) program, eGwen Highway, supplemental feeding, and Grameen for Women.

Frasco told Cebu Daily  News that some programs like Pasigarbo has an ordinance pending for first reading before the Provincial Board (PB) while eGwen program is backed by an executive order.

Frasco was hired by Gov. Garcia last year to institutionalize the programs, which means these will stay on even after the end of her last term in June next year.

Frasco also recommended that an organization equivalent to Cebu City’s Sinulog Foundation Inc. will be formed for the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo.

Also, a prefinal draft ordinance is also being crafted for the Museo sa Sugbo to have its permanent home at the old provincial jail.

For the supplemental feeding and Grameen for Women, she said  each local government unit (LGU) will be coming up with a resolution or ordinance to back the project.

The same recommendation goes for eGwen Highway program.

Frasco, who is four months pregnant, has been going around towns and talking to  the point person for each projects and programs. correspondent carmel loise matus