The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has approved a proposal to establish public affairs ministries in all dioceses in the country.

The move was made during the church leaders’ plenary assembly in Tagaytay City on July 9 to 11.

The bishops also approved the elevation its Permanent Committee on Public Affairs into an episcopal commission.

Established in 1982, the commission is currently led by Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista of Imus and Father Jerome Secillano as its executive secretary.

Father Secillano welcomed the move, saying that they can now “serve more and we can have different partners also coming from different archdioceses and dioceses.”

“We really have to make our social engagement very strong especially now that the church is also needed,” said the priest in a report on CBCP News.

Among the functions of the public affairs commission is the coordination between the bishops’ Conference and the government.

The body is also tasked to represent the bishops’ conference in public hearings called by the government in matters affecting church-state relations.