HOUSE Deputy Majority Leader and Tingog Party-list Representative Jude Acidre, together with Archbishop of Manila, His Eminence Cardinal Jose Advincula, held a dialogue on matters involving education at Arzobispado de Manila in Intramuros last Thursday.

Complementary and Partnership in Education as well as topics on Expanded Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education, were the primary topics discussed in the dialogue.

The dialogue, which lasted for about three hours, paved the way for a fruitful and engaging discussion on the ways and means the legislators can possibly provide to support the private education system, which includes Catholic schools and institutions in the Philippines, which operations declined during the onslaught of the pandemic.

Both the legislators and the Catholic faith leaders recognized the importance of each other’s roles in improving the education system in the country during the dialogue.

Also present in the meeting were Rep. Patrick Michael D. Vargas and Rep. Marvin D. Rillo of Quezon City, Rep. Ysabel Maria J. Zamora-Jornada of San Juan City, Rep. Amparo Maria J. Zamora of Taguig City, Rep. Angelica Natasha Co of BHW Party-list, Rep. Raul Angelo Jil D. Bongalon of AKO BICOL Party-list, Rep. Alfred C. Delos Reyes of Ang Probinsyano Party-list, Rep. Ramon C. Nolasco Jr. of Cagayan, Rep. Lorenz R. Defensor of Iloilo, and Rep. Marjorie Ann Teodoro of Marikina.

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) President Bishop Pablo Virgilio S. David of Kalookan was also there together with Bishops from Malolos, Novaliches, Cubao, Military Ordinariate, among others.

Other priests were also present in the dialogue representing Catholic schools from the various dioceses.

As they ended the dialogue, legislators committed to studying the concerns discussed during the dialogue and later on filing them into bills for possible materialization.

The activity ended with blessings from Cardinal Advincula himself.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Ryan Ponce Pacpaco