About five months since it was launched in all parishes and Catholic schools, the nationwide “piso-piso” fund-raising campaign for the 2016 International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) in Cebu City has reached a total of P3 million.
Over half of the amount was generated from Cebu, said Fr. Charles Jayme, chairman of the Piso Para sa Misa ng Mundo (PPMM).
“The amount we collected was as of Nov. 30, 2014 only. Other dioceses are still sending whatever they collected for the IEC. Manila, for one, is still busy preparing for the papal visit next month while some dioceses were slowed down by different calamities,” he said during a briefing at the Archbishop’s Residence last Monday.
Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma earlier said that the “Piso Para sa Misa ng Mundo” is an invitation to anyone to contribute in their own small way for the international gathering to be held in Cebu City on Jan. 24 to 31, 2016.
The fund-raising drive for the IEC will be monitored by Fr. Jayme with the help of the bishops in the country.
Last June, donation boxes designed with two hands holding the Eucharist were distributed to parishes, chapels and Catholic institutions.
In the spirit of transparency and accountability, Fr. Jayme said they will give updates of the amount collected and that all donations shall undergo audit.
He said donations shall be collected by parish priests and school administrators and will be remitted to the Economic Affairs Office of the dioceses and archdioceses.
Acknowledgment receipts shall be issued to the parish priests and school administrators.
The donations shall then be remitted to the Metrobank branch in Intramuros, Manila before it will be forwarded to the IEC main account.
Although there is no need to spend much for a Eucharistic celebration, Msgr. Dennis Villarojo, the IEC secretary-general, said that the Church needs financial assistance to defray the cost of the expenses which include spending for the board and lodging of speakers and interpreters during the IEC.
The church will also need to refurbish the templete or little temple at the South Road Properties in Cebu City where the statio orbis or culminating Mass will be held.
The templete, located on a 27-hectare portion of the SRP, was where the national thanksgiving Mass for the canonization of San Pedro Calungsod was held last Oct. 30, 2012.