CBCP head lists ‘desiderata’ for gov’t

CBCP president Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma: Desiderata

MANILA, Philippines—The head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Sunday enumerated several “desiderata” for the Aquino administration, saying that harping on the country’s economic progress was not enough and that it must also assess its work based on social and environmental issues.

The CBCP president, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, made this appeal as President Aquino is set to deliver his fourth State of the Nation Address (Sona) at the House of Representatives on Monday.

“After our plenary assembly, we [listed] some desiderata … the pastoral letter that we issued is already a commentary on what we feel is the performance of the [administration],” Palma said in an interview with reporters.

In a pastoral statement issued following its 107th plenary assembly early this month, the Church body expressed concerns over issues like the coconut levy fund, the agrarian reform program, the environment and the proposed Aurora Pacific Ecozone and Freeport Authority.

“We bishops are concerned about these issues because they are matters of justice which deeply touch the lives of the poor,” the statement said.

Palma said that while the Aquino administration trumpeted the economic gains, it must not look at it based on “gross profit” or numbers. “It must ask itself whether these gains are being felt by the poor. Does it cascade down to the poor?” the senior prelate said.

On Saturday, several bishops called on Aquino to establish how the country’s economic growth would benefit the people, especially the poor and the unemployed, in his Sona.

Aside from this, Palma said the government must be able to give the public an idea of what was happening to the country’s natural resources—whether it was benefiting the Filipinos or foreign investors.

“How much do we profit from [our natural resources]? Or are other nations gaining from it?” Palma asked.

He said the government, under the leadership of Aquino, must also take a look at how it was responding to environmental problems like the constant flooding experienced in various parts of the country, including Metro Manila.

“Why is it that when it rains, the people now are easily frightened? What is the government doing to address problems in the environment, especially the flooding these days?” he said.

“How about the country’s peace and order situation? How is it?” he added. “And of course, the reproductive health (RH) law, which we continue to ask [the government] if it really is the solution to poverty.”

He wondered when the government would stop believing that stemming the country’s population growth would provide better lives for its people.

“Why do we have to take a leaf from other nations that are now regretting their decision to control their population … the government must really study this further,” he said.

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Originally posted at 8:37 p.m. | July 21, 2013