Pastoral appreciation day in city proposed

The City Council, during last Monday’s regular session, approved on first reading a proposed ordinance institutionalizing every second Sunday of October as Pastoral Appreciation Day in the city, creating a committee for the purpose and appropriating funds for the same.

Local legislators stated that the Pastoral Appreciation Day every second Sunday of October shall be included as a regular activity of the city that will allow the local government to spearhead programs and activities purposely to express profound gratitude and appreciation to the commendable contributions and services of pastors, priests, reverends, ministers and all other clergymen and religious leaders based in the city.

The ordinance created a committee that shall spearhead and coordinate the activities of the Pastoral Appreciation Day which shall be composed of the City Administrator as chairman, Chairperson of the Council Committee on tourism, Specials Events, Parks and Playgrounds as vice chairperson and the City Tourism Officer, representatives from various religious sectors based in the city and representative from the Baguio Correspondents and Broadcasters Club (BCBC) as members.

The ordinance provided for the appropriation of the amount of P100,000 from the available funds to ensure the smooth implementation of the activities that will be lined up by the local government for the said purpose. The said funds shall be included in the annual budget of the City Administrator’s Office to ensure the proper execution of the programs and activities for the said endeavor.

Among the proposed activities for the Pastoral Appreciation Day include thanksgiving program, health fairs, free legal assistance, presentations on effective church management and people leadership and such other activities and programs as may be determined by the committee.

According to the ordinance, while various church-based groups promote and celebrate Pastoral Appreciation Day on their own, it is about time for the local government to spearhead a harmonized program purposely for the same objective of graciously thanking and appreciating the commendable contributions and good services of pastors, priests, reverends, ministers and all other clergymen and religious leaders based in the city.

The ordinance stipulated that doing so is a good expression of sincere gratitude to those dependable partners who have modestly helped the city in achieving its standing vision which centers on steadfast leaders who are God-loving and responsible and peace-loving citizens.

The State affirmed its commitment in encouraging non-governmental, community-based or sectoral organizations in promoting the welfare of the nation.

Baguio City, by virtue of Resolution No. 107, series of 2003, has been designated as a Character City that resulted in the formal launching of city-wide initiatives to earnestly encourage character building in all sectors in the city.

The ordinance admitted that local churches have greatly contributed in character building by taking an essential role in the continuous realization of the very purpose and noble objective of making Baguio City as truly a city of character. – Dexter A. See