Kalookan Bishop Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David issued a special prayer or Oratio Imperata that the Navotas Sanitary Landfill fire, which has affected the health and livelihood of nearby residents, be extinguished.
Posting the prayer in English and Tagalog through social media platforms, the prayer is for the extinguishing of the fire, which has been reportedly burning since April 10, and the safety of citizens exposed to its fumes.
“Save us, Lord — most especially the children, the elderly, the sick, and all citizens, from the asthma, the labored breathing, and the many other illnesses brought about by the contamination of our air and water,” read the prayer.
The prayer also called for the government to act and take responsibility for the incident.
“We pray for public servants of goodwill, as well as for the experts — both from our own country and those who have come from abroad. Direct their hands and minds toward solutions that will bring swift relief to our communities,” the prayer continued.
“Lord, through the power of Your creative might, let the natural forces of wind and rain act to extinguish what human strength alone cannot put out,” it added.
The Oratio Imperata for the Landfill shall be recited every after the Prayer of the Faithful at all masses at the Diocese of Kalookan.
Here is the prayer in English:
Lord God,
Creator of heaven and earth,
of the air we breathe
and the water we drink,
we come before You in humility
and in urgent need.
To this day, the fire continues
to rage across the mountains of waste
dumped along the waterways of Tanza, Navotas.
It continues to affect the health of many
in the neighboring cities and towns throughout Metro Manila.
The smoke it releases poisons the air with toxic fumes,
and its runoff likewise poisons the waters
that were once thriving fishponds,
waters that are now part of irresponsible
reclamation projects in Manila Bay.
Save us, Lord — most especially the children,
the elderly, the sick, and all citizens,
from the asthma, the labored breathing,
and the many other illnesses brought
about by the contamination of our air and water.
Lord, move the government agencies
to act and to hold accountable
all those responsible for this grave tragedy.
We pray for the firefighters, engineers,
and volunteers who work day and night,
and for all who are finding ways to put out this fire.
Guide them.
Strengthen them.
Protect them.
Grant success to their every effort.
We pray for public servants of goodwill,
as well as for the experts —
both from our own country and those
who have come from abroad.
Direct their hands and minds toward
solutions that will bring swift relief
to our communities.
Lord, through the power of Your creative might,
let the natural forces of wind and rain act
to extinguish what human strength alone
cannot put out.
Restore clean air to our neighborhoods.
Restore health to those who are ill.
Restore hope to those who have lost it.
And in the safety that will come after this crisis
has passed, grant us the wisdom never to return
to our old ways — to be responsible for the waste
we produce, to practice proper sorting, reduction,
and recycling of what we throw away,
to care for the nature You have entrusted to us,
and to protect all that You have created on land,
in water, and in the air.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, Risen
Lord and Master of the new creation,
together with the Holy Spirit who renews all things. Amen.
— BAP, GMA News
