TRANSFORMING faith into action continues to be the main calling for faith-based organizations in the Philippines as efforts to realize peace and lasting development remain to be a major challenge in Marawi City.
Some 51 representatives from 23 FBOs gathered for a roundtable discussion last week to strengthen coordination and response actions in the embattled city including the Catholic Church through NASSA/Caritas Philippines, the National Council of Churches in the Philippines, and the Philippines Council of Evangelical Churches– Philippine Relief and Development Services.
“We are now considered to be the strongest alliance of FBOs in the country with over 30,000 local churches, national organizations and international affiliations, and it is imperative that we do our share to help our Maranao brothers and sisters,” said Bishop Noel Pantoja, PCEC national director.
Fr. Edwin Gariguez, NASSA/Caritas executive secretary, said: “While we see these efforts as still needed on-ground, we are also intensifying our campaign to promote peace, solidarity and cooperation among Christians and Muslims. Efforts to start the process of healing are on-going and the FBOs’ initiatives to realize this goal is vital to continuous dialogue and reconciliation.”
500 ELDERLY, 350 INMATES GET FREE EYE CHECK-UP, EYEGLASSES TIANGCO
Some 500 senior citizens and 350 inmates from the Navotas City jail have become recipients of Mayor John Rey Tiangco’s free eye check-ups and eyeglasses as part of 2017 World Sight Day held recently at the City Sports Complex.
The mayor was accompanied by Dra. Ruby Lim and Office of the Senior Citizen Affairs chief Councilor Linda Ramirez as he’s gratified by the cooperation thrown by the Holy Grace Christian Church, Heart to Heart International and Korean Foundation International Heart Care.
“Lubhang napakahirap gumalaw para sa isang matanda lalo pa at malabo ang paningin kung kaya minarapat natin na makipag- ugnayan sa OSCA at kay Dra. Lim upang maisakatuparan ang nasabing proyekto,” according to the mayor.
INTESIFIED TAX COLLECTION MEANS BIGGER CITY REVENUES
Mayor Tiangco owes it hugely to the local taxpayers who’ve shown cooperation to his administration by paying their proper taxes promptly. As a result, the local government can be able to carry out several pro-poor and pro-people programs and projects over the years.
Saying there’s a need to update the market value of the real property, the mayor, just the same, trains his sight to several establishments especially inside the Navotas Fish Port Complex which are potential source of real property taxes.
For government-owned facilities at NFPC, they’re exempted from (real property) taxes but they’re made to pay if their spaces are rented to private individuals or businesses, the mayor said. GOOD RIDDANCE/ARLIE CALALO
