Bishop Crispin B. Varquez (Manila Bulletin File photo) Borongan Bishop Crispin Varquez said the rising COVID-19 cases in the province have become alarming and more prayers were needed to calm the fears of the people in the province. “Our current situation now, when many lives have been lost and many continue to suffer because of the COVID-19 pandemic , calls us as a Church to express our faith more earnestly through ardent prayers and sacrifice. The rise of the COVID-19 cases recently in our province is very alarming,” Varquez said over Radio Veritas. The bishop urged the faithful in the province to take part in the observance on July 20. “Let us join our hands in prayer and offer the sacrifice of fasting to ask for God’s mercy against the COVID-19 pandemic,” Varquez said.