New Year's wish Bohol bishop rallies public to take care of environment

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines – Msgr. Leonardo Medroso of the diocese here has bared his “wish list” for the New Year with a strong message of hope that will unite for the top priority of taking care of the environment.

The bishop, during an interview with DyTR radio in a morning program hosted by veteran anchorman and The Freeman correspondent Ted Ayeng on Jan. 1, said he wished for a united stand for the benefit of the majority of the people on environment protection and on peace and order in 2013.

"Atong ampingan ang atong kalikopan (We must take care of our environment)," Medroso said, adding that the people of God should not delve more on “secular” things but to strengthen their faith in God, instead, and should not live only for one's self but also for others.

Medroso cited the fate of Mindanao due to typhoon Pablo, and he recalled what happened to his hometown of Ormoc City in the 1990s when thousands perished due to typhoon and floods as a result of environmental degradation.

He reminded the faithful that "water sustains life, but it could also kills life.“ The Catholic Church is actively involved in taking care of the environment, and this is being taken care of by the Social Action Center under the guidance of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), he said.

The Church has been continuously doing the awareness campaign for the environment, and Medroso said he has been worried that if the stakeholders do not give top priority concern on the environment, then maybe there will be more tragedies to fall upon the people.

Medroso further spoke on local government and politics. He said: "I hope politicians will listen to the good teachings of the Church."

The bishop added that the Church will launch a program to raise awareness of the people to prepare the latter come up with better choices in the forthcoming mid-term elections.