MANILA, PHILIPPINES – President Rodrigo Duterte has declared the fourth week of March 2020 as a “National Week of Prayer for all Filipinos Affected by the Corona Virus Pandemic and for our National Response Efforts”
“I urge Filipinos of all faiths and religious traditions and backgrounds to offer prayers for all those affected, including people who have suffered harm or lost loved ones,” Duterte said in his statement announcing the declaration.
In his statement, President Duterte noted that because of the coronavirus pandemic many Filipinos would not be able to attend their place of worship this week.
Here is the full text of President Duterte’s announcement that he was declaring the fourth week of March as a National Week of prayer:
“I ask everyone to pray for the recovery of those who are now suffering from COVID-19, for comfort to those who lost loved ones, and for the protection of all, especially the most vulnerable sectors of society,” Duterte said in Proclamation No. 934, which he signed on Saturday.
“Pray also for strength and endurance for our outstanding medical professionals and health workers on the frontlines, your military and law enforcement officers, the government officials and personnel dealing with the present threat, and all Filipinos who are working tirelessly to protect our communities, sacrificing their lives in the service of the country,” he added.
The signing of the proclamation came after officials of the House of Representatives requested Duterte in a letter to declare March 22 as “National Day of Prayer” amid the COVID-19 threat.
The Senate and the House of Representatives will also hold a special session, which Duterte himself called, on Monday at 10 a.m. to take up measures to address the COVID-19 threat.
