Cardinal David issues prayer to extinguish Navotas landfill fire

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