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By Anthony Vargas, Reporter
THE influential Catholic Bishops’ Conference
of the Philippines (CBCP) avoided discussing other social and
political issues beyond its members’ petition to Congress to
extend the agrarian reform program during the Wednesday meeting of
its permanent council.
At least nine bishops, led by CBCP President,
Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, attended this meeting held at the
CBCP office in Intramuros, Manila.
Except for the CARP extension, matters discussed
were “purely internal to the CBCP,” Lagdameo told reporters
during a chance interview following the meeting.
At least 35 bishops had petitioned Congress to
approve a consolidated substitute bill asking for a five-year
extension of CARP “with reforms”, and the allocation of at least
P100 billion for its implementation. On Monday and Tuesday, CBCP
held its two-day Third Bishops’-Legislators Caucus in Quezon City
and Manila.
The Iloilo prelate said the bishops are looking
forward to the coming Second National Rural Congress in July and
remain optimistic that President Arroyo would give special attention
to the extension of the land reform program.
“[Extending the CARP] is one way of helping
our farmers. We are also glad that the IRRI (International Rice
Research Institute) is now being revived to help in rice
production,” Lagdameo said.
Another bishop who attended the meeting,
however, said that although political and social issues were not
discussed in Wednesday’s meeting, these have been lined-up in the
forthcoming CBCP plenary meeting next month.
“Yes… it was purely internal matters.
However, current issues like rice crisis and search for truth will
be part of the agenda in the coming plenary meeting,” said the
bishop who asked not to be named.
To be discussed in the plenary meeting are
issues on the rice shortage, land reform and the possible church’s
role in the 2010 presidential elections.
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