BALANGA City, Bataan- The Diocese of Balanga has implemented a program it calls “Sagot ka ng Diocese” to show its equal concern for all diocesan priests in Bataan, Bishop Ruperto C. Santos said Monday.
Under the scheme, priests, including the bishop, have standard living allowance. “Pantay-pantay ang tinatanggap kahit sa malaki o maliit na simbahan o parokya madestino,” said Santos, fondly called Bishop Stud.
There are 54 diocesan priests assigned in various parishes in 11 towns and one city in the province. This number does not include 28 other priests under different religious orders involved in Catholic-run schools.
The diocese shoulders payments of all dues of priests with the Social Security System, PhilHealth and the Catholic Bishops Conference.