MANILA, April 7, 2011—Interior and Local Government Sec. Jesse Robredo and three Catholic bishops led the signing of a covenant for good governance Thursday.
The signing of the covenant was the highlight of the launching of the partnership between churches and barangays held at the St. Peter’s Parish Church in Quezon City.
Dubbed as “Barangay at Simbahan: Magkabalikat Para sa Matuwid na Pamamahala,†the program seeks to advance principles of clean governance at the barangay level.
The program covers the villages of the cities of Quezon, Caloocan, Navotas and Malabon.
From the government, signatories of the covenant were: Mayors Herbert Bautista of Quezon City, Canuto Senen Oreta of Malabon City, John Reynald Tiangco of Navotas City and Enrico Echiverri of Kalookan City; and Presidents of league of barangays of the four cities.
The church sector, meanwhile, were led by Bishops Honesto Ongtioco of Cubao, Deogracias Iñiguez, Jr. of Kalookan and Antonio Tobias of Novaliches; representatives of the Diocesan Lay coordinators.
Robredo said partnership is the Church’s response to the government’s call for its active involvement in the Department’s renewed and zealous effort to realize good governance at the barangay level.
“Nalulugod po kami at naging mabilis ang pagtugon ng Simbahan sa aming panawagan at hamon na makibahagi at makiisa sa kampanya para sa isang mabuti at tuwid na pamamahala,†he said.
Earlier, the DILG chief called on the active participation of the Church and other sectors of the society in the task of nation-building, particularly in introducing reforms and changes in local governance.
Among those who attended the affair were DILG Regional Director Renato Brion, Dir. John Castañeda of the National Barangay Operations Office, Philippine National Police Chief Director General Raul Bacalzo, Fr. Antonio Labiao Jr., among others. (CBCPNews)
