22 Catholic bishops give Arroyo failing grade

Half of the 44 Catholic Bishops who participated in an on-air survey Sunday said they were dissatisfied with the performance of outgoing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and gave her nine-year administration as failing mark. Among the issues cited by the 22 bishops were President Arroyo’s alleged failure to address poverty in the country, provide equal quality of education to the poor, protect the environment, and curb patronage politics. The bishops also cited the alleged lack of transparency in the Arroyo administration as highlighted by the graft-ridden contracts and dubious programs associated with it, among them the botched $329.5-million national broadband deal with Chinese firm ZTE Corp. and the fertilizer fund scam. Palace "respectfully disagrees" Malacañang officials, on the other hand, dismissed the bishops’ failing marks. “The bishops are entitled to their opinions," deputy presidential spokesman Gary Olivar told GMANews.TV in a phone interview. Olivar said basic education programs under President Arroyo have improved, and that she had strictly observed freedom of the press during the entirety of her term. “So we respectfully disagree [with the CBCP]," Olivar said. Deputy presidential spokesperson Roger Peyuan said Malacañang is currently making an inventory of President Arroyo accomplishments, and the CBCP survey “will serve as guidance for everyone." “We will look into all the comments that they said. I suppose that will be a material that may be used for discussions on the accomplishments of the Arroyo administration," he said in a separate phone interview. Cheers The bishops, however, lauded President Arroyo for what they said was her top three legacies namely her infrastructure projects, her efforts to provide economic stability to the country, and her pro-life policy. They also praised President Arroyo for her “Bigasan sa Parokya" program, which provides poor families with cheap rice; her land reform program; and the successful nationwide automated elections last May 10, the first in the country’s history. Respondents in the survey are Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president and Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar, Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles, Kalookan Bishop Deogracias Iniguez, Baguio Bishop Carlito Cenzon, Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco, Catarman Bishop Emmanuel Trance, Pampanga Archbishop Paciano Aniceto, Tarlac Bishop Florentino Cinense, Tagbilaran Bishop Leonardo Medroso, Pampanga Auxiliary Bishop Pablo David, Marbel Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez, Maasin Bishop Precioso Cantillas, Marinduque Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, Dumaguete Bishop John Du, Batanes Bishop Camilo Gregorio, Palawan Bishop Pedro Arigo, Abra Bishop Leopoldo Jaucian, Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes, Novaliches Bishop-emeritus Teodoro Bacani, Cabanatuan Bishop Sofronio Bancud, Occidental Mindoro Bishop Antonio Palang, Borongan Bishop Crispin Varquez, La Union Bishop Artemio Rillera, Butuan Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos, Basilan Bishop Martin Jumoad, Calapan Bishop Warlito Cajandig, Taytay Bishop Edgardo Juanich, Gumaca Bishop Buenaventura Famadico, Bukidnon Bishop Jose Cabantan, Alaminos Bishop Marlo Peralta, Lingayen-Aagupan auxiliary Bishop Renato Mayugba, Pampanga auxiliary Bishop Roberto Mallari, Jolo Bishop Angelito Lampon, Antipolo auxiliary Bishop Francisco de leon, Laoag Bishop Sergio Utleg, Cotabato auxiliary Bishop Jose Bagaforo, Iligan Bishop Elenito Galido, Malolos Bishop Jose Oliveros, Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra, Bayombong Bishop Ramon Villena and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop-emeritus Oscar Cruz. - with Sophia Dedace/KBK, GMANews.TV