URBAN SHALLOWS Children make do with an inflatable pool with just enough water to keep themselves cool in this street scene at Baseco compound in Tondo, Manila, on Friday. —RICHARD A. REYES
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) urges the faithful to pray for rain and relief from the extreme heat brought about by the El Niño phenomenon, which for months has posed threats to public health and caused large-scale damage to farms.
Msgr. Bernardo Pantin, the CBCP secretary general, transmitted the text of “Oratio Imperata Ad Petendam Pluviam” (Obligatory Prayer to Ask for Rain) to bishops and priests on Friday.
The CBCP issued a similar prayer in past episodes of El Niño in the country.
A portion of the new prayer reads: “At your command the wind and the seas obey. Raise your hand, Almighty God, to avert the continuing rise in temperatures so that your people can engage in productive undertakings and our young people can pursue learning in tranquility and comfort.”
Another excerpt reads: “Teach us to be wise stewards of your creation so that we may always use them responsibly and protect them from abuse and exploitation. At this time of crisis, dear Lord, move us to share more, to serve more and to love more.”
Drought damage
As of end of April, the El Niño-induced dry spell has affected the livelihood of over 113,000 farmers and fishermen in 12 of the country’s 17 regions. Damage to crops and livestock has reached P5.9 billion.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development on Friday said it had released more than P101 million worth of food packs to 737,901 affected families in 13 regions.
An additional P121.6 million worth of food aid has been prepositioned for distribution, Assistant Social Welfare Secretary Irene Dumlao said.
For the past few weeks, the soaring heat index has also forced the Department of Education to suspend in-person classes, with some local governments adopting a four-day work week.
As El Niño weakens and transitions to La Niña, the onset of rainy season is expected to be delayed, with drought conditions lasting till August, according to Science Secretary Renato Solidum. —With a report from Jane Bautista