HISTORY

SACOP has deep roots stretching over three decades of social and development work in the Archdiocese of San Fernando, Pampanga. Two groups who were catalysts of this development, the Catholic Relief Services / Targeted Maternal and Child Health Program(CRS/TMCHP) and Grassroots Organization Volunteers Association, Inc. (GROVAI), laid the groundwork for the emergence on April 16 1990 of SACOP the social service arm of the Archdiocese’s Commission on Social Action.

In the early 70s, the Diocese focused its modest resources on a systematic delivery of relief services. The Diocese sought the help of CRS in administering a three-month feeding program for malnourished children, their numbers increased after the devastating flood of 1972. Later building on this a supplementary health care education program was launched what came to be known as Targeted Maternal and Child Health Program or TMCHP.

In mid-80s as the problem of malnutrition was considered within the wider context of poverty in the rural areas development work began to take shape. This time the Archdiocese, through the initiative and leadership of GROVAI, took a more radical response by espousing a program that sought to empower grassroots communities. This was done through the formation and organization of associations and cooperatives. The enthusiasm of volunteers from the parishes and grassroots organizations propelled the force of the Church’s involvement in poverty alleviation programs. Capability-building, organizational formation and livelihood assistance became the central to the way of operating. Helping people help themselves was the general orientation of this period.

In 1990 these two organizations pooled their resources and expertise and SACOP emerged. The new organization was finding its feet when the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991 occurred. This produced a landscape of massive destruction. Pampanga was reduced to a center of devastation. Relief and rehabilitation were SACOP’s immediate response to the emergency nature of the problem. With time and the participation of the Kapampangan parishes, other dioceses, civic groups and foreign partners, SACOP delivered an integrated and sustainable rehabilitation program through Evacuation Center Management, Adopt a Barrio, and Resettlement.

In 1996 the waning of the extreme episodes of destructive mudflows and flashfloods gave space to the Archdiocese of San Fernando to reflect and re-articulate the meaning of its being a Church. Through the Archdiocesan Pastoral Assembly held in 1996, the church of Pampanga came up with an Archdiocesan Integrated Pastoral Plan (AIPP 2) which provides in her mission, to empower the laity and parish communities in fulfilling their role as agents in the transformation of society and to serve more responsibly the marginalized in Pampanga .
Following this direction, SACOP began to work towards social development at the parish level. To assist with this it launched and began to implement its pastoral program, the Kasuyuan a Yayampang at Gagampanan ning Parokya at Eukaristiya (KAYAGAPE).

To date, SACOP maintains the Integrated Rehabilitation Programs on a level of partnership with various cooperatives and people’s organizations which have developed into sectoral and municipal federations. It also has well developed social welfare services, community development, livelihood services and pastoral work services. SACOP is now working to develop the potential of parish volunteers and lay leaders, encouraging them to develop their own social action programs according to the needs of their communities and parishes.

Much has happened over three decades and much remains to be done towards building the kingdom of God in Pampanga.