MANILA, Jan. 15, 2013—More than a hundred members of the clergy of the Archdiocese of Palo attended an Annual Clergy Ongoing Formation that focused on the issue of the priests’ Standard Living Allowance (SLA).
Held last January 7-11 in Davao City, the five-day formation program geared towards having a systematized financial system for the clergy of Palo.
According to Fr. Amadeo Alvero, the media liaison of the archdiocese, Palo Archbishop John Du and the clergy wanted to systematize the financial system of the archdiocese so that the priests will have a decent and just remuneration or allowance.
Msgr. Bernardo Pantin gave the history of the clergy’s aspiration on having an SLA. He said it had been a desire to establish a new system of decent remuneration for priests from the time of Abp. Pedro Dean up to the time of Abp. Jose Palma.
Abp. Du, Palo’s current prelate also wished that his clergy may realize and experience the good and beauty that this SLA will bring to all of them.
Meanwhile, Fr. Elmo Borgueta, JCD, discussed about the Parish as Juridical person in the 1983 Code. Atty. Ruben Tenedero, archdiocesan accountant, presented the Proposed Financial System for the archdiocese. Fr. Edgar Macalalag, the present Oeconomous discussed about the Proposed Implementation of SLA for the archdiocese.
“Archbishop Du assures us, his clergy that this SLA will enhance our brotherhood and indeed will establish a stronger relationship as we work together as one to care for the faithful entrusted to us,” Alvero furthered.
Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles also shared his experience on SLA and the great good it will bring to the Church, the clergy and faithful.
Aside from the archbishop, two priests from the diocese of Kidapawan, a former and recent Oeconomous, also shared their experiences on the topic of SLA in their diocese.
A tour around Davao City and its tourist destinations such as the Eden Nature Park, culminated the clergy formation. (Jandel Posion/CBCPNews)
