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Catholic priest on chapels being used as temporary classrooms
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MANILA — A Catholic priest said that it would be the discretion of the diocese if it would allow the use of its chapels as temporary classrooms in areas hit by super typhoon Yolanda.
Fr. Edu Gariguez, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-National Secretariat for Social Action (CBCP-NASSA) said it would be the leader of the diocese where the chapels are located who will decide if they allow the chapels to be used as classrooms.
“Pwede naman pero ‘yung diocese magdecide dyan. Maliliit lang kasi ‘yan (chapels) at kulang ’uyn. Pero nasa head ng diocese ‘yun. Ganunpaman magamit man hindi sapat kasi maliit nga at hindi naman ganun kadami,” he said.
Gariguez is certain that God would not mind if his house (chapels) will be used as classrooms.
“Sa tingin ko wala masama dun mas matutuwa nga si Lord…pero temporarily lang kasi ang puso naman ang Diyos mercy and compassion. Maiintindihan ng Diyos ‘yun kung bakit ang simbahan e gagamitin,” he said.
The CBCP-NASSA official added, “Wala problema kung may kakulangan at kailangan talaga gamitin ang chapels., I don’t think ipagdamot ‘yan ng dioceses.”
With this. Gariguez noted that the government should fast track its project in building more classrooms in areas devastated by the typhoon.
“Kung kulang ang classroom magpagawa agad kahit temporary kasi sabi ko nga meron naman pondo…’yung kakulangan sa classroom hindi dapat ibaling sa maliit na solusyon. Ano ba ang ugat ng problema? Bakit ba wala classroom e meron naman enough resources…” he said.
The Catholic priest added that the Church and other civic organization both local and international are extending their hands to be able to build more classrooms.
“Baka naman may classroom na ipinagawa pero kulang. Dapat pro actve ang government na tugunan ito. Tayo ay tumutulong lamang pero nasa kanila ang major role,” he said.
Public schools in the country are set to open on Monday, June 1 for school year 2015-2016.
