Priests also dread looming traffic jams

Even the clergy are jittery about the predicted horrendous traffic jams in Metro Manila as it would delay their response to “life and death” situations and delivery of pastoral services to the faithful. LEO M. SABANGAN II

MANILA, Philippines—Even the clergy are jittery about the predicted horrendous traffic jams in Metro Manila.

An official of the social arm of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Sunday said the traffic gridlock that would be spawned by the simultaneous construction of major road projects in the capital would delay their response to “life and death” situations and delivery of pastoral services to the faithful.

“Our work as priests has no [set] time. We have to be there when the sick call or someone is on their deathbed,” Fr. Edu Gariguez, executive secretary of the CBCP National Secretariat for Social Action, told reporters in an interview.

Two major road projects—the Skyway to connect the South Luzon Expressway in Makati to the North Luzon Expressway in Quezon City, and the Naia Expressway phase 2—are expected to snarl traffic in the capital.

The traffic jams would hinder the mobility of priests, who are expected to promptly respond to the pastoral needs of Catholics, particularly the sick and dying, said Gariguez.

“If there is bad traffic, our ability to give pastoral ministry on time suffers,” he said.

Even Masses and weddings are expected to be affected, said Gariguez, particularly if these are to be officiated outside the local parish.

Gariguez said priests would bear an extra burden with the traffic jams, noting that they had full schedules.

“If we move one activity, the rest will be affected. That is the big problem of the ministry,” he said.

Gariguez said that in the past they asked the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority to exempt them from the number-coding scheme like doctors.