Dumaguete bishop leads penitential walk vs. reclamation project

Dumaguete Bishop Julito Cortes on Monday led a "penitential walk for the protection of life and the environment," according to a post on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) website.

Cortes also led recitation of prayers for the victims of extrajudicial killings and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The penitential walk, which started at the Redemptorist Church and ended at the Dumaguete Cathedral, was attended by members of the clergy, religious nuns and lay people.

The group also stayed along Rizal Boulevard, the site of the P24-billion reclamation project, and recited Pope Francis's "A Prayer for Our Earth."

Cortes also voiced hope for the conduct of a dialogue with Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Remollo.

The prelate sent documents to Remollo earlier this year related to their stand on the proposed project.

"What I hoped was he (Remollo) would acknowledge it and invite us to explain himself. Since then, there have been none," said Cortes, adding that "In professional communication, when you send something, you respond." -- BAP, GMA News