CFE 2
UNJUST LABOR PRACTICES
○ Termination of a contract of employment without
due process or in a manner that violates the terms of
the contract is called unjust dismissal. In such cases,
the courts usually take the employee's contractual
rights into consideration in awarding damages. Also
called wrongful discharge or wrongful termination.
Inspired Word
Hebrews 6:10
“For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the
love that you have shown for his name in serving the
saints, as you still do.”
Matthew 11:28
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I
will give you rest.”
Church Teaching
○ The The Church has had a long and active
relationship with the world of work. Beginning with
Pope Leo’s 1891 landmark social encyclical, Rerum
Novarum (‘On Capital And Labour’) and continuing
today the Church has had much to say about the
rights and duties of the worker and of business.
○ Rerum Novarum (“On the Condition of Labor and
the Working Classes”), Pope Leo XIII, 1891, #42.
○ Quadragesimo Anno (“After Forty Years”), Pope Pius
XI, 1931, #74.
○ The Church fully supports the right of workers to form
unions or other associations to secure their rights to
fair wages and working conditions. This is a specific
application of the more general right to associate. In
the words of Pope John Paul II, "The experience of
history teaches that organizations of this type are an
indispensable element of social life, especially in
modern industrial societies."
The future of humanity does not lie solely in the hands of
great leaders, the great powers and the elites. It is
fundamentally in the hands of the people and their
ability to organize. –Pope Francis
Union are for Common Good
○ The Church has strongly and consistently advocated
for workers to have the right to form unions and
associations and emphasizes the importance of
these in creating real human connection and
community amongst workers (a key part of the
dignity of work) but also in allowing workers to
pursue and protect their rights and just working
conditions.
○ CCC #2427 Human work proceeds directly from
persons created in the image of God and called to
prolong the work of creation by subduing the earth,
both with and for one another.210 Hence work is a
duty: "If any one will not work, let him not eat."211
Work honors the Creator's gifts and the talents
received from him. It can also be redemptive. By
enduring the hardship of work212 in union with Jesus,
the carpenter of Nazareth and the one crucified on
Calvary, man collaborates in a certain fashion with
the Son of God in his redemptive work. He shows
himself to be a disciple of Christ by carrying the cross,
daily, in the work he is called to accomplish.213 Work
can be a means of sanctification and a way of
animating earthly realities with the Spirit of Christ.
○ CCC #2428 In work, the person exercises and fulfills in
part the potential inscribed in his nature. The
primordial value of labor stems from man himself, its
author and its beneficiary. Work is for man, not man
for work.214 Everyone should be able to draw from
work the means of providing for his life and that of
his family, and of serving the human community.
○ CCC# 2433 Access to employment and to
professions must be open to all without unjust
discrimination: men and women, healthy and
disabled, natives and immigrants.219 For its part
society should, according to circumstances, help
citizens find work and employment.220
CONSUMERISM
Commodification
○ a process of not distinguishing anymore either
consciously or unconsciously between human and
non human entities resulting from a capitalist
perspective solely for the sake of profiteering.
Moreover, in the process of commodification, not
only is the human person reduced to a tool that has
an exchange value but also his relations.
○ directly affects human beings, is a human creation;
therefore, it can be solved. However, human reality
is not the only reality that gets affected. People's
commodifying consciousness has greatly altered not
only the human world (the world as perceived by
human beings) but also the natural world. Because
human beings in a capitalist society amass wealth,
both human beings and environment are exploited.
The exploitation of the former has found numerous
criticisms from different political humanist
perspectives.
What exactly is consumerism?
○ Consumerism is the idea that increasing the
consumption of goods and services purchased in
the market is always a desirable goal and that a
person's well being and happiness depend
fundamentally on obtaining consumer goods and
material possessions.
Is consumerism bad or good?
○ Consumerism has a good and bad side.
Although consumerism drives economic growth and
boosts innovation, it comes with a fair share of
problems ranging from environmental and moral
degradation to higher debt levels and mental
health problems
What are the effects of consumerism?
Positive Effects of Consumerism Negative Effects of Consumerism
Craving for goods is high. The
wants and desires of the people
increase. The better their income,
More industrial production. the better their purchasing power.
But in case, they are not able to do
so, and then they feel dissatisfied.
One is in a rat race to earn more
A higher growth rate economy. and is forced to cope up with stress
and other work-related tensions.
Material wealth is the deciding
factor about whether a society is
highly developed or not. Spiritual
More goods and services
available.
values are underplayed. This may
not be suitable to a person from
the East, who generally is
appreciative of spiritual values.
Crime rate also increases as wants
More advertising since goods to possess expensive gadgets
manufactured have to be sold. increase. Thefts become common,
and daylight robberies take place.
Personal relationships also get
Increased production will result in affected as people are busy trying
more employment opportunities. to earn more to maintain their
standard of living.
 Cheaper goods are imported from ○ Pope Benedict XVI cautioned, “Do not be fooled by
A variety of goods and services to other goods affecting the growth
those who see you as just another consumer.”
choose from. of locally-based manufacturing
industries. ○ And Pope Francis has linked consumerism to the
Consumerism has also resulted in throwaway culture that he has denounced time
ecological imbalances. The natural and time again.
habitat is being destroyed to
create more goods and build more
○ Consumerism fosters greed, envy, and even lust. We
More comforts for better living become bound by these chains, which keep us from
buildings affecting the weather.
style.
Global warming will eventually authentic freedom and human flourishing. Our
result in health problems. Industrial
neighbors and friends become rivals and reminders
pollution is affecting people in
many ways. of our inadequacy. The poor and needy become
People lifestyles have also obstacles to possessing more and more things. They
changed in a sense they are more themselves become things, as everything is viewed
lavish, full of material comforts
rather than focusing on simplicity.
through a materialist vision and the spiritual nature of
Eastern spiritualism and philosophy the person is forgotten. No one sees God in another
have always emphasized person if they are obsessed with how they measure
simplicity. Gandhian principles and up to that person.
values favor a non-materialistic
approach to life. ○ Consumerism inevitably distorts our relationships.
Consumerism is also depleting the Pope Francis has explained, “Indifferent
natural resources of the respective individualism leads to the cult of opulence reflected
country.
in the throwaway culture all around us. We have a
Psychological health also can get
affected if one’s desires are not surfeit of unnecessary things, but we no longer have
meant, such as depression. the capacity to build authentic human relationships
Jealousy and envy can lead to marked by truth and mutual respect.” We throw
crime.
human beings away, sometimes after we have
objectified them and consumed them.
○ People, of course, have always "consumed" the ○ The throwaway culture is not just about the structure
necessities of life – food, shelter, clothing – and have of the global economy, though we certainly need a
always had to work to get them or have others work more just system that promotes the flourishing of all.
for them, but there was little economic motive for It is also about our own mindsets and actions.
increased consumption among the mass of people ○ The international community and countries of the
before the 20th Century. world have a responsibility to build an economy that
○ Paul gives a strong warning to those pulled in the serves the human person — all human beings. They
direction of consumerism: “But godliness with are called to respect the universal destination of
contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing goods and ensure that the goods God has given to
into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. all will belong to all so that each person can reach
But if we have food and clothing, we will be content their full physical, emotional, intellectual, and
with that. Those who want to get rich fall into spiritual potential. Therefore regulating markets,
temptation and a trap and into many foolish and redistributing wealth, ensuring a living wage, and
harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and fulfilling all of the other responsibilities that belong to
destruction.” public authorities. It does not mean snuffing out the
○ Consumerism thrives in an atmosphere of market, as was done under the wretched
comparison. We have Item A, but our friend got the totalitarian regimes of modern communism, but
new Item B, and it is so much better. Even though prioritizing the common good above a market
we may have been happy with our item, we’re ideology and placing God’s law above a market
suddenly smitten with jealousy and discontent. We morality.
flip on the TV and watch the rich and famous flaunt ○ Personal responsibility must be embraced if we hope
their lifestyles, and, by the time we turn it off, we feel to eliminate the throwaway culture. Christians must
disgusted at our own. Pangs of jealousy pierce our learn to differentiate between wants and needs.
souls for a few seconds, and we question the They must pursue lasting joy rather than fleeting
goodness of God for giving such abundance to happiness or pleasure. They must remember that
someone else and such seemingly lesser things to us. their worth and dignity is not dependent on keeping
○ The greatest evil of consumerism is that it pulls our focus
from Christ and His kingdom to earthly, temporal things.
up with the Joneses, but based on being made in
When we are born again into the family of God through the image of God.
faith in the substitutionary death and resurrection of Jesus, ○ Other human beings are not objects to be ignored
our focus changes. We become citizens of another realm. or consumed. Only then will we eradicate the
This world and its values must no longer dictate our throwaway culture and rebuild the bonds of the one
passions. Philippians 3:18–20 says, “Many live as enemies of human family.
the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is ○ When a desire for bigger and better begins to
their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is
dominate our decisions, we should check our level
set on earthly things
of gratefulness.
○ The Church has long stood against the materialism
○ Consumerism is a competing god, and a wise
and radical individualism that is so fundamentally at
Christian will keep a check on his or her heart.
odds with the Christian belief in solidarity and the ○ Philippians 3:8 describes the attitude Christians should
common good and that drives consumerism. John adopt: “I consider everything a loss because of the
Paul II warned against people becoming “slaves of surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose
‘possession’ and of immediate gratification, with no sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I
other horizon than the multiplication or continual may gain Christ.” When we consider the world’s greatest
replacement of the things already owned with offerings as “garbage” compared to the surpassing worth
others still better.” of spiritual treasures, we will live free of consumerism.
○ Christians must learn to differentiate between wants
and needs. They must pursue lasting joy rather than
fleeting happiness or pleasure.
CORRUPTION
Bribery
○ refers to the offering, giving, soliciting, or receiving of
any item of value as a means of influencing the
actions of an individual holding a public or legal
duty
Embezzlement/Theft/Fraud Theft
○ Misappropriation of funds placed in one’s trust or
belonging to one’s employer
Extortion/Blackmail
○ the practice of obtaining something, especially
money, through force or threats
What causes corruption?
○ among the most common causes of corruption are
the political and economic environment,
professional ethics and morality and, of course,
habits, customs, tradition and demography. Its
effects on the economy (and also on the wider
society) are well researched, yet still not completely.
Is corruption a crime?
○ Although some federal statutes do require a corrupt
intent or a corrupt act, corruption by itself is not an
offense. Corruption is a sociological concept with a
long history that sometimes includes discussion of
fraud.
How can we identify corruption?
○ Corruption can be detected through a variety of
methods, the most common of which are audits
(internal and external) and reports (by citizens,
journalists, whistle
blowers and self-reporting). what His divine power accomplished for us. One of
What is a corrupt person called?
○ A corrupt peson - a criminal, a crook, or a cookie
thief — brings society down with immoral and
dishonest behavior. Corrupt goes back to the Latin
roots cor-, "altogether," and rumpere, "break.
○ Generally speaking as “the abuse of entrusted
power for private gain”. Corruption can be classified
as grand, petty and political, depending on the
amounts of money lost and the sector where it
occurs.
○ Grand corruption consists of acts committed at a
high level of government that distort policies or the
central functioning of the state, enabling leaders to
benefit at the expense of the public good
○ Petty corruption refers to everyday abuse of
entrusted power by low- and mid-level public
officials in their interactions with ordinary citizens,
who often are trying to access basic goods or
services in places like hospitals, schools, police
departments and other agencies.
○ Political corruption is a manipulation of policies,
institutions and rules of procedure in the allocation
of resources and financing by political decision
makers, who abuse their position to sustain their
power, status and wealth
Inspired Word of God
○ Romans 5:12
○ Genesis 2:17
○ Ephesians 2:1-3
○ Job 17:14; Psalm 16:10
○ Exodus 32:7; Hosea 9:9
○ John 14:15-17; 16:7; Acts 1:4-5,8
corruption protocols and practices.
Inspired Word of God
○ Corruption is a state of decay, pollution, or
incorrectness. In the Bible, corruption is one of the
effects of sin that resulted from the fall of man. In the
beginning, God created a perfect paradise, free of
sickness, pain, and death. But when Adam and Eve
disobeyed God by eating the forbidden fruit, sin
entered the world, spoiling its perfection. That sin
also brought contamination and decay to Adam
and Eve and to the human nature of every person
born after that (Romans 5:12). Thus, corruption in the
Bible is the state of moral contamination and
spiritual decay expressed through disobedience
toward God
○ Corruption is closely related to spiritual death. God
told Adam that, if he ate from the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil, he would “surely die”
(Genesis 2:17). Adam didn’t die a physical death
that day but a spiritual one that involved separation
from God (Ephesians 2:1–3).
○ In the Old Testament, corruption can refer to literal,
physical decay (Job 17:14; Psalm 16:10), but, most
often, corruption is used figuratively for moral
corruption and depravity (Exodus 32:7; Hosea 9:9).
The prophets boldly took a stand against moral
decay among God’s people: “The sin of the house
of Israel and Judah is extremely great; the land is full
of murder, and the city is full of corruption” (Ezekiel
9:9, NET)
○ When we come to know Jesus Christ, we embark on
a personal relationship with Him. The more that
relationship grows, the better we understand who
Jesus is and what He’s done for us. We start to grasp
Jesus’ promises to us is the empowering and
purifying ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of every
believer (John 14:15–17; 16:7; Acts 1:4–5, 8). The Holy
Spirit empowers us to obey God, reversing the curse
of corruption and making us partakers of God’s
divine nature
Church Teaching
○ As political corruption has plagued civil society for
centuries, Sacred Scripture and the Church from
earliest times have commented on its detrimental
effects, particularly on the poor.
○ The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the
Church (447) recognizes that political corruption is
one of the causes that greatly contributes to
underdevelopment and poverty especially in
developing countries. This is particularly true of
countries that are in debt which are not repayable
in part due to corruption, poor administration of
public finances or improper utilization of loans
already received (450). In these situations the
people who suffer the worst brunt of political
corruption are the poor and the powerless.
○ In Laudato Si’, Pope Francis recognized that some
countries are gradually making significant progress
towards combating corruption but he also stressed
that for poor countries, the priorities must be to
eliminate extreme poverty and to promote the
social development of their people and an effective
means of doing this would be to curb corruption
more stringently. Pope Francis also recognized that
despite corruption being wrong in law, a lack of
enforcement is too often inadequate to combat
corruption and called on individuals to exert public
pressure on politicians to develop more rigorous
anti
○ “Often, politics itself is responsible for the disrepute in
which it is held, on account of corruption and the
failure to enact sound public policies.” Pope Francis,
Laudato Si’, 197
SOCIAL ISSUES RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY
Inspired Word of God
○ Equality in Faith (Galatians 3:26-29)
○ 28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave
nor free person, there is not male and female; for
you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Christians.
○ 29
And if you belong to Christ, then you are
Abraham’s descendant, heirs according to the
promise.
○ In ancient times, so much was at stake in the
distinction between Gentile and Jew, women and
men, slave and free men.
○ Always, the Gentile, the woman and the slave are
at receiving end of oppression within society.
○ Yet Paul writes that in Christ Jesus, everybody is
equal because we have been given the same Spirit
and we are all sons and daughters of God.
○ Because of this basic equality, our differences
cannot be the source of division and discrimination.
○ Rather, these should enrich the community because
of the variety of talents and charisma that flow from
such differences.
○ The differences in function in the Church do not do
away with the basic equality among the members.
Church Teaching
○ The fact, beauty and challenges of difference:
Paul’s “Unity in Diversity.”
○ At the beginning of one of his earliest letters, Saint
Paul already began to stress the need for unity in the
church.
○ He urged: “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by
the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be
in agreement and that there be no divisions among
you, but that you are united in the same mind and
the same purpose” (1 Corinthians 1:10).
○ Saint Paul also encourages the people of Ephesus to
make “every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit
in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3).
○ He tells the people of Philippi to stand “firm in one
spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith
of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27).
○ Saint Paul uses the great analogy of the body to
describe the unity that should characterize the
Church.
○ Though we are many, we “are one body in Christ,
and individually we are members of one another”
(Romans 12:5).
○ This unity does not mean that we are all the same,
instead, “as in one body we have many members,
and not all the members have the same function, so
we, who are many, are one body” (Romans 12:4-5)
○ In fact, the Holy Spirit recognizes and wants this
beautiful diversity of members and “we have gifts
that differ according to the grace given to us”
(Romans 12:6).
○ This unity of faith and baptism binds us together so
strongly that “there is no longer Jew or Greek, there
is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and
female” (Galatians 3:28).
○ This does not mean that our differences are
obliterated, but that there is something even more
powerful that holds us together in one Church and
what holds us together is that all of us “are one in
Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).
○ Nature and Principles of Dialogue of Life
○ One of the aspects of the renewed Church with a
renewed mission that the Second Plenary Council of
the Philippines envisioned is a Church that enters
into dialogue with other religions and cultures, a
“dialogue of life.”
○ Dialogue of life as a missionary thrust has gained a
wider acceptance in the Philippine Church.
○ In places where Christians are the majority, like the
Philippines, there is a tendency to impose religious
practices and beliefs on the non
○ The Southern Mindanao peace and justice issue
between Muslims and Christians cannot be resolved
by force, but perhaps by way of continuous
dialogue of life with them.
○ The Second Plenary Council of the Philippines
exhorts the Church: “We in the Church must be the
first to start undoing past effects of our mutual
grievances.”
○ Filipino Catholics, therefore, should “acknowledge,
preserve and encourage the spiritual and moral
truths found among non-Christians, also their social
life and culture.”
○ This makes possible “openness in understanding the
religious convictions of others. [For] ‘dialogue based
on hope and love will bear fruit in the Spirit’”
(Catechism for Filipino Catholics 75).
Missionary Response
○ As missionaries, we can engage in a dialogue of life
by:
1. Not making fun of the beliefs and practices
of another who is different from us in terms of
religion, culture and upbringing;
2. Showing an accepting attitude towards
those who are different from us;
3. Being open to ideas and perspectives
different from ours; and
4. Joining ecumenical activities for the good of
the community.
POLLUTION AND ECOLOGICAL SOLID WASTE
MANAGEMENT
What is meant by biodegradable and non-
biodegradable waste?
○ Biodegradable wastes are those that can be broken
down or decomposed.
○ Non-biodegradable wastes are those that cannot
be broken down or decomposed.
What do we do with food scraps and yard waste?
○ They are composted to produce organic material
that can be added to soil to help plants grow.
What do we do with paper and bottles?
○ They are recycled - they are used to produce new
products.
How do we classify materials produced by industrial,
mining and agricultural operations?
○ They are residual waste - non-hazardous waste
material that cannot be reused or recycled and
needs to be sent to energy recovery or disposal.
○ Improper waste disposal and the increasing amount
of trash/garbage produced are one of the major
problems faced by people not only in our
communities but also in the whole world.
○ Problems on improper waste disposal have caused
other problems such as clogged drainage or
waterways, flooding and diseases.
○ Hence, there is a need for people to find ways on
how to address these problems because it is our
responsibility to protect our environment.
Inspired Word of God
○ The Feeding of Five Thousand (John 6:1-14)
○ 1
After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of
Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias.
○ 2
A large crowd kept following him, because they
saw the signs that he was doing for the sick.
○ 3
Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there
with his disciples.
○ 4
Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near.
○ 5
When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming
toward him, Jesus said to Philip, "Where are we to
buy bread for these people to eat?”
○ 6
He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he
was going to do.
○ 7
Philip answered him, "Six months' wages would not
buy enough bread for each of them to get a little."
○ 8
One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother,
said to him,
○ 9
"There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and
two fish. But what are they among so many
people?"
○ 10
Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." Now there
was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat
down, about five thousand in all.
○ 11
Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had
given thanks, he distributed them to those who were
seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted.
○ 12
When they were satisfied, he told his disciples,
"Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing
may be lost."
away”
○ 13
So they gathered them up, and from the
fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those
who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets.
○ 14
When the people saw the sign that he had done,
they began to say, "This is indeed the prophet who is
to come into the world."
○ It may be out of date to say that the Bible addresses
environmental issues because there were none
during the ancient times.
○ Nevertheless, the apostle and evangelist John gives
an insight about recycling in this passage.
○ In the account of the feeding of the five thousand,
we see Jesus instruct His disciples to gather the
leftover food so that none of it was wasted (John
6:12).
○ Some twelve baskets of surplus bread were
gathered and more than likely distributed to the
poor in the surrounding areas (John 6:13).
○ In this act, we see our Lord’s distaste for waste.
○ We might wonder why any man who can
miraculously feed more than five thousand people
would worry about leftovers, but Jesus was an
exemplary man; and therefore is showing us that
God’s bounty is not to be wasted.
Church Teaching
○ In Laudato Si’, Pope Francis highlights the need for
waste management and recycling.
○ He writes in #180: “Political activity on the local level
could also be directed to modifying consumption,
developing an economy of waste disposal and
recycling, protecting certain species and planning a
diversified agriculture and the rotation of crops.”
○ In its pastoral letter, An Urgent Call for Ecological
based instruments to promote
Conversion, Hope in the Face of Climate Emergency
regulation among the population.
(2019), the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the
Philippines recommended the faithful to start living
simply and to refrain from using single
use plastic ○ By virtue of RA 8749 and Proclamation No. 1109,
which greatly contributes to the pollution of the
ocean and waterways.
○ It writes: “Live simply, minimize consumption and
actively practice ecological awareness and action
through integral waste segregation and by
minimizing the use of plastic and paper, by
eliminating single-use plastics, polystyrene and the
like, from our homes and institutions.”
○ “Everything must go somewhere” is one of the seven
environmental principles.
○ When a piece of paper is thrown away, it
disappears from sight but it does not cease to exist.
○ It ends up elsewhere.
○ Gases released in smokestacks may disperse but it
will end up a component of the atmosphere or
brought down by rains.
○ What a particular type of waste does to the earth’s
repository should be of concern to us.
○ It may be a pollutant or a resource depending on
certain factors.
○ Since wastes are not lost to oblivion, and even goes
back to one’s own backyard in some other forms, it
is important that one becomes aware of the
different types of wastes – whether they are
biodegradable or non-biodegradable, whether they
are hazardous or not.
○ Classification of wastes facilitates their proper
disposal and minimizes, if not prevents, the entry of
toxic wastes in vital ecosystems and ensures re-
conversion into useful forms
○ The principles open up one’s eyes to the need to
turn back from attitudes inherent in a “throw
society.
○ Methods of waste management must be studied for
possible adoption.
○ The need for environmental impact assessment for
any project is obvious.
○ Thus, Comprehensive Solid Waste Management
involves:
 Avoidance  Recycling
 Reduction  Treatment
 Reuse  Residual
Management
○ Laudato Si cites some negative effects of various
forms of air pollution.
○ “Exposure to atmospheric pollutants produces a
broad spectrum of health hazards, especially for the
poor, and causes millions of premature deaths.
○ People take sick, for example, from breathing high
levels of smoke from fuels used in cooking or heating.
○ There is also pollution that affects everyone, caused
by transport, industrial fumes, substances which
contribute to the acidification of soil and water,
fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides, herbicides and
agrotoxins in general.”
○ Laudato Si also highlights the urgent need to reduce
the emission of polluting gases through substituting
for fossil fuels and developing sources of renewable
energy.
○ The Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 (Republic Act
8749) outlines the government’s measures to reduce
air pollution and incorporate environmental
protection into its development plans.
○ It relies heavily on the polluter pays principle and
other market
self
○ It sets emission standards for all motor vehicles and
issues pollutant limitations for industry
Philippine Clean Air Month is observed every
November.
○ The Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 (Republic
Act 9275) pursues a policy of economic growth in a
manner consistent with the protection, preservation
and revival of the quality of our fresh, brackish and
marine waters.
○ In Water is Life, the CBCP calls for a concerted effort
by the laity, the national government, local
government units, non
government organizations,
the scientific community and the Church to address
the problem of water insecurity and the urgency to
protect our remaining watersheds.
○ The Bishops wrote that “water insecurity is one of the
most serious environmental problems facing the
country today and it is not the kind of problem that
can be solved overnight.”
○ World Water Day was observed starting in 1993
every March 22, in conformity with the
recommendations of the United Nations Conference
on Environment and Development as contained in
the Fresh Water Resources Chapter of Agenda 21.
○ As part of the observance of the 2020 World Water
Day, the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral
Human Development published Aqua Fons Vitae.
Orientations on Water: Symbol of the Cry of the Poor
and the Cry of the Earth.
○ The document, meant to support the human right to
clean water, reminds us that “by means of the water
made holy by the Spirit,” God gives us life and
renews us.
○ The way we respect water is an indicator of how we
are “taking care of the early garden” entrusted to us.
○ In observance of World Water Day, we educate
ourselves and others about the challenges the world
faces in ensuring access to clean water: the holy
source of all life.
Missionary Response
○ Protect our watersheds while at the same time using
fresh water wisely, promoting and establishing
massive rainwater collection, and putting a stop to
infrastructures that can be detrimental to the
preservation of ecological balance and biodiversity