Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez met with the local clergy on Monday, Oct. 20, to discuss the holding of recollections for elected officials and government employees for moral renewal.
Corruption and flood control problems were also tackled at the meeting with the Bacolod priests.
They will be launching recollections with priests and government officials and eventually with employees to “bring back moral virtues” amid the prevalent problem of corruption, Benitez said.
“We will begin with us (elected officials in Bacolod)” in the second week of November, he said.
“It will be about repentance, contrition and penance,” Benitez said, stressing the need for a “white revolution” for change.
Councilor Caesar Distrito, spokesman of the mayor, in a press release said the congressman’s meeting with the clergy tackled corruption, moral recovery, and flood control issues.
He said at the meeting were Fr. Aniceto Buenafe Jr., Fr. Armando Onion, Fr. Filomeno Duaban, and Fr. Hermes Fabio.
Joining Benitez were Vice Mayor Kalaw Puentevella, and councilors Distrito, Jude Thaddeus Sayson, Celia Flor, and Al Espino, “who shared insights and expressed support for collaborative measures between the Church and local government toward moral recovery and good governance”.
The discussion followed Benitez’s earlier meeting with Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David where they talked about the moral and ethical challenges confronting public service, including corruption in infrastructure projects, Distrito said.
David underscored that confession, contrition, restitution, and penance are essential to genuine moral renewal, stressing that “there can be no reconciliation without truth.”
He further cautioned against allowing political expediency to prevail over the welfare of the people.
During the dialog with the priests Benitez explained the causes of Bacolod’s flood control problems and discussed reforms to ensure transparency and accountability in the implementation of public works, Distrito said.
Benitez also informed the clergy that he supports a proposed ordinance requiring the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to conduct prior consultations and coordination with the city government before undertaking any national projects in Bacolod.
The priests expressed support for the planned Flood Summit initiated by Benitez, Distrito said.
They also proposed several moral and social initiatives, including a Moral Recovery Program to start at the barangay level, with recollections for city and barangay officials, and potentially extending to purok chairpersons, he added.
This program or proposal will not deter the church from seeking the truth regarding the anomalous flood control projects and undermine concerned citizens’ efforts in investigating those projects, Distrito said.*