By Ferdinand Patinio
MANILA – Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David on Friday issued an Oratio Imperata for deliverance from the Navotas Sanitary Landfill fire that has yet to be contained since it broke out four weeks ago.
David directed its recitation after the Prayer of the Faithful in all Masses across the diocese, urging both prayer and action to safeguard communities and the environment.
The prayer cites the fire’s severe impact, including toxic smoke polluting the air and contaminated runoff flowing into waters that were once fishing grounds in parts of Manila Bay.
It also appeals for the protection of residents — especially children, the elderly, and the sick — and calls on authorities to act swiftly and hold those responsible accountable.
Prayers were likewise offered for firefighters, engineers and volunteers battling the blaze, as well as experts seeking solutions to the crisis.
The appeal underscores the need for responsible waste management, including proper segregation, reduction and recycling.
The landfill fire, which started on April 10, continues to pose health and environmental risks across Metro Manila.
The prayer has Filipino and English versions:
Para sa Pagsawata sa Sunog sa Navotas Sanitary Landfill (Bibigkasin pagkatapos ng Panalangin ng Bayan sa lahat ng Misa sa Diyosesis ng Kalookan)
Panginoong Diyos,
na Maylikha ng langit at lupa,
ng hangin na aming hinihinga
at ng tubig na aming iniinom,
lumalapít kami sa Iyo nang may kababaang-loob at matinding pangangailangan.
Hanggang ngayon, patuloy pa rin ang pagkalat ng sunog na naglalagablab sa gabundok na basurang itinambak sa may tubigan ng Tanza Navotas.
Patuloy din itong nakakaapekto sa kalusugan ng marami sa mga karatig lungsod at bayan sa buong Metro Manila.
Matinding lason ang idinudulot ng usok nito sa hangin, at nilalason din ng katas nito ang tubigan na dating mga palaisdaan na bahagi ngayon ng mga iresponsableng reclamation projects sa Manila Bay.
Iligtas mo po Panginoon, lalo na ang mga bata, mga nakatatanda, mga may karamdaman at lahat ng mamamayan sa hika at pagbigat ng hininga at iba pang mga sakit na dulot ng kontaminasyon sa hangin at tubig.
Panginoon, antigin mo ang mga ahensyang pang-gubyerno na kumilos at papanagutin ang lahat ng responsable sa matinding trahedyang ito.
Ipinagdarasal namin ang mga bumbero, inhinyero, at mga boluntaryong nagtatrabaho araw at gabi, at lahat ng gumagawa ng paraan para masugpo ang sunog na ito. Gabayan Mo sila. Palakasin Mo sila. Ingatan Mo sila. Bigyan mo ng tagumpay ang kanilang pagpupunyagi.
Ipinagdarasal namin ang mga lingkod-bayan na may mabuting kalooban, gayundin ang mga dalubahasa — ang mga taga-rito at ang mga nanggaling pa sa ibang bansa.
Gabayan Mo po ang kanilang mga kamay at isipan tungo sa mga solusyong magdadala ng mabilis na kaginhawaan sa aming mga pamayanan.
Panginoon, sa bisa ng iyong mapaglikhang kapangyarihan, hayaan mong kumilos ang mga likas na puwersa ng hangin at ulan upang mapawi ang hindi kayang pawiin ng lakas ng tao lamang.
Ibalik Mo ang malinis na hangin sa aming mga kapitbahayan.
Ibalik Mo ang kalusugan sa mga nagkakasakit.
Ibalik Mo ang pag-asa sa mga nawawalan nito.
At sa katiwasayang darating pagkatapos ng krisis na ito, bigyan Mo kami ng karunungan na huwag nang bumalik sa aming mga dating gawi, na maging responsable kami para sa aming mga basura, na maisakatuparan namin ang tamang pagbubukod, pagbawas at pag-recycle ng aming mga panapon, na mapangalagaan namin ang kalikasang ipinagkatiwala Mo sa amin, na ingatan namin ang lahat ng Iyong nilikha sa lupa, sa tubig at sa hangin.
Hinihiling namin ito sa pamamagitan ni HesuKristong Muling Nabuhay at Panginoon ng bagong sangnilikha, kasama ng Espiritu Santong nagpapabago ng lahat ng bagay.
Amen.
San Roque, Patron ng Kalookan, Ipanalangin mo Kami.
San Bartolome, Patron ng Malabon, ipanalangin mo Kami.
San Jose, Patron ng Navotas, ipanalangin mo kami.
Mahal na Ina ng Inmaculada Concepcion, Ipanalangin mo kami.
For the Extinguishing of the Fire at the Navotas Sanitary Landfill (To be recited after the Prayer of the Faithful at all Masses in the Diocese of Kalookan)
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.
Saint Roque, Patron of Kalookan, pray for us.
Saint Bartholomew, Patron of Malabon, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, Patron of Navotas, pray for us.
Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, pray for us. (PNA)
