|
BAGUIO CITY: “Mining investors must consult with the Church.”
This was part of the message given by President
Gloria Arroyo, during the opening of the Luzon North Rural Congress
on Wednesday at the Baguio Cathedral.
About 220 participants attended the Congress
from 21 archdioceses, dioceses and apostolic vicariates from the
Northern and Central Luzon regions.
The two-day event focuses on the presentation
and validation of consultation results from the different
archdioceses, dioceses and apostolic vicariates; the Church’s
response as contained in the Catholic Social Teachings; and will
culminate with the Declaration of Commitment to Unity and Action.
The objectives of the regional congress include:
the presentation of collated results of diocesan consultations; to
deepen the analysis on the factors and root causes of rural poverty;
to reflect on the current situation in the light of social teachings
of the church; to discuss the challenges to church and society; and
to arrive at concrete recommendations and action plans addressed to
dioceses, basic rural sectors, government agencies and civil society
organizations.
Earlier, the President has declared her support
for “responsible mining.”
During an earlier speech of the President at the
Stakeholder’s Forum on Responsible Mining for Sustainable
Development, she said, “In a nutshell, our mining policy is:
minimum environmental and social effect, maximum contribution to the
war against poverty.”
Aside from mining, the President also informed
the clergy that the government is doing price manipulation in
connection with the global rice shortage so that rice may be
available in the market and affordable to the poor.
-- Larry Madarang with Aila Reyes and April Valenciano
|
