Forum - A Call to Righteous Governance

The UMC Challenge: A Call to Righteous Governance

Good Samaritan United Methodist Church

Quezon Ave., Quezon City

 

Last Saturday, September 21, 2013 together with clergy and lay leaders from my Conference (Philippines Annual Conference Cavite), I attended a forum on "righteous governance" sponsored by the Manila Episcopal Area of The United Methodist Church under Bishop Rodolfo A. Juan. One of the speakers was former chief justice of the Supreme Court, Reynato Puno, a member of the UMC. This is part of the Church's response--initiated by young people--regarding the ongoing "pork barrel scandal" that is currently embroiling (no reference to barbecued pork intended) members of the Congress of the Philippines.

The view from the vestibule.

The forum opened with a time of worship led by the praise and worship team of Puno UMC and the Unity Choir of the Quezon City Philippines Annual Conference-East (QCPACE).

The first speaker was Prof. Nieves Osorio, a commissioner of the Civil Service Commission, a member of Fairview Park UMC. She has a long experience in government service, especially when it comes to budgetary matters. Her talk was on the government's budgetary process, especially on the controversial PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund, otherwise known as the “pork barrel” fund). She explained how each government agency proposes their yearly budget and submits it to the Department of Budget, and Management. The DBM passes it to Congress, which writes up the General Appropriations Bill, which is finally approved by the President. Then each agency shall give an account of its expenditures to the Commission on Audit. They also publish their expenditure reports on their agency websites.

Prof. Osorio pointed out that while there is economic growth, there is still unemployment, which means that economic growth is not yet "inclusive", i.e, not everyone benefits from it.

The controversial PDAF is actually part of the national budget. A legislator can determine which projects he/she wants sponsor, e.g., agriculture. The legislator can either give the funds to a government agency (e.g., the Department of Agriculture) or a non-governmental organizations (NGO) involved in such a project. The problem is that whether the NGO is legitimate or bogus. She lamented that since the PDAF is currently "suspended", scholars who are currently supported by the fund may have to stop in their studies.

Former Chief Justice Reynato Puno, who hails from Puno UMC, gave a talk entitled "God's Power vs. People in Power" which presents the lay person's perspective on the PDAF issue. He seems to be in his element as he quoted Scripture, the UM Book of Discipline, and the Constitution. He quoted the UMC Social Principles which state that the State derives its just powers from the sovereign God. Therefore the must serve the common good of the people because governments are also under the accountability of God. "Our duty is to exert a strong ethical influence on the state." (Copies of his presentation were distributed after the forum. I wish it would be posted online so I can copy or link to it.)

Bishop Rodolfo Juan of the Manila Episcopal Area spoke "God, Righteous Governance, and the UMC challenge". He expounded on Micah 6:8--“It hath been told thee, O man, what is good, and what the LORD doth require of thee: only to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.” (Copies of his talk was also distributed after the forum.)

There was an open forum which entertained questions from the audience. Most of the question was on the processes of the national budget, so naturally it was Comm. Osorio who answered these. Asked how graft and corruption can be curbed, her answer is vigilance on part of the people, but they should be educated on how the national budget works.

The Rev. Helen Cunanan, a district superintendent, gives a response as a representative of the clergy. Representative of the laity stand behind her.

 

Different sectors of the Church gave statements of challenge and response, given by representatives from the children youth, young adults women, men, deaconesses, and the clergy.

The forum ended with the congregationa singing of "Pass It On"--in Tagalog. A Litany on the UM Social Creed was recited. Bishop Juan and retired Bishop Solito Toquero read a pastoral statement issued by the College of Bishops. Bishop Toquero led in the closing prayer and gave the benediction.