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CBCP sends message of sympathy to mudslide victims in S. Leyte
18 February 2006 --- THE CATHOLIC BISHOPS were saddened over the loss of many lives caused by a massive mudslide in Southern Leyte yesterday.
"The sad news about the most tragic landslide in Guinsaugon, Saint Bernard in Southern Leyte has moved us to our knees in prayer," said Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) President.
In a statement of sympathy and concern, Lagdameo said, "even as we grieve, we already hear in the media a number of comments about our carelessness and onslaughts against environment."
"We hear some people lamenting the delays in the implementation of reforestation programs that should have restored our denuded forests," he noted.
Lagdameo, meanwhile, lauded people who have committed themselves to protect the environment against those who "plunder our national patrimony and safety in pursuit of economic returns "that neither alleviate the national economy nor improve the plight of the poor in this country."
The bishops also called on all the social action centers in all dioceses nationwide to coordinate all efforts and resource under the headship of the National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA) and collaborate with Bp. Precioso D. Cantillas of the Diocese of Maasin.
"This way we can more efficiently harness our disaster response programs and rehabilitation initiatives for the families of the victims of the calamity," Lagdameo also said.
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