Manila (AsiaNews) - On behalf of the President of the Episcopal conference, Archbishop Fernando Capalla, Mons. Hernando Coronel, Secretary-General of the Conference, conveyed to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the bishops' warmest congratulations for her inauguration as 14th Philippine President on June 30. "We have been vigilant and prayerful before, during and after the May 10 national elections, especially the canvassing phase in the halls of Congress. We join the entire Filipino nation in its much-awaited conclusion to the electoral exercise, culminating in
Your Excellency's proclamation early morning on June 24," writes Mons. Coronel.
"Be assured of the pastoral solicitude of the bishops especially on programs alleviating the plight of our poor countrymen and women," he added. During her campaign period, President Macapagal-Arroyo stressed her six-point program for the poor during her six-year term as president: cheaper medicine, clean portable water for communities, giving loans for small income-generating projects, and one million jobs, among others. (SE)
