Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the government is willing to sit down with the Catholic bishops to explain its position on Charter change, economic recovery, and electoral reforms, among others.

"We accept the pastoral letter with humility and an open mind and I believe there is room for a constructive dialogue with the CBCP. It is important to have a dialogue," Bunye said in a press conference in Malacañang.

The dialogue initiative came after the Catholic bishops called on the President to pursue the truth behind controversies that affected the presidency and her family.

In its pastoral letter last Sunday, the CBCP has also appealed to the government to reconsider moves to amend the Constitution and cancel elections next year. They also urged political leaders to undertake electoral reforms to restore the people’s trust and confidence in the electoral process.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita also asserted the government’s readiness to give a "special briefing" for the Catholic bishops to foster better understanding about government’s programs aimed at alleviating the lives of Filipinos.

"If the CBCP likes, we are ready to give them a special briefing about the specific programs of the government that actually addresses the issues raised in its pastoral letter," he said in a radio interview.

Ermita pointed out that there are many "commonalities" in the concerns of the bishops and the President, particularly regarding anti-poverty programs, specifically translating recent economic gains to benefit the poor.