Pondo ng Pinoy collection drops by P5 million

MANILA, Philippines - The Catholic Church-based community foundation Pondo ng Pinoy (PnP)’s collection went down by P5 million last year following the retirement of its founder, Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, who attended the 8th PnP anniversary yesterday at the University of Santo Tomas, said the retirement of Rosales may have contributed to the lackluster support of the public for the program.

Pabillo said that while he could not give a certain reason for the decline in their collection, it is possible that some people might have thought that the PnP was over since its founder has retired.

“We do not know the factor (for the lower collection), maybe because there were more calamities or maybe the people thought that the PnP program has already concluded. That is why this celebration is meant precisely to give a message to everyone that the program is still going on in the Archdiocese of Manila,” the Manila prelate said.

PnP executive director Fr. Edwin Mercado of the Archdiocese of Manila said that from June 2011 to June 30 this year the total PnP collection was P40,596,893 or P5 million lower compared to the P45 million collection in the last fiscal year.

Pabillo clarified the misconception that the PnP is merely a fund-raising activity of the Catholic Church.

He said the program is geared toward “changing the person’s character…to impress on everyone that they can do something to help.”

Mercado said they are planning to intensify their information campaign to revive the public’s interest in the program.

“We want to intensify their catechesis and their understanding on the Theology of the Crumbs for them to better understand the meaning of sharing,” he said.

“The primary purpose of PnP is not fund-raising, rather evangelization. It’s not only money that you can share because you can also share your time and effort,” he added.

The PnP, which aims to gather 25-centavo coins from the faithful, was initiated by Rosales in 2004 to help fund the Catholic Church’s different programs for the poor.

Rosales stepped down as Manila Archbishop last December. His successor, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle, presided over the PnP anniversary celebration.