An official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has encouraged the faithful to continue praying the “Oratio Imperata” for more rain.

“We should continue praying it (Oratio),” CBCP Public Affairs Chairman and Kalookan Bishop Deogracias Iniguez said in an interview.

An “Oratio Imperata” is a special prayer for a special intention, besides the ones prescribed by rituals, that the Pope or the bishop may require to be recited during Masses.

Iniguez said that the faithful should particularly pray for rain to come in areas hit by the dry spell due to the El Niño phenomenon.

Nevertheless, he said, they are still happy that there are already brief rainshowers in some parts of the country.

“We are happy that it rained already. Somehow it would help minimize the effect of El Niño. I hope for more rains (in the coming days),” he said.

Last February, at least three Catholic Church leaders released an “Oratio Imperata” in their own archdioceses to combat the effects of the El Niño that of Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas.

The prayer is still being recited in the different churches and parishes under the three archdioceses.

Government authorities earlier warned that the country is facing drought and shortage of water because of the El Niño phenomenon.

Last week, some parts of the country particularly Luzon, including Metro Manila experienced rain showers providing a brief respite from the extreme heat.