The Lower House ratified the Red Cross Act, also known as House Bill 6509 and Senate Bill 3285, yesterday night, February 1. 

The Senate and the House of Representatives approved the aforementioned bill last October 20, 2009 in a bicameral conference committee meeting. The charter is a measure that recognizes the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) as independent, autonomous and auxiliary to the government.

PRC Chairman Senator Richard J. Gordon, principal author of Senate Bill 3285, celebrated the approval of the bill, which according to him, will strengthen the PRC’s ability to respond to the humanitarian needs of Filipinos affected by natural disasters, armed conflicts and other emergencies.

“This measure further affirms the Republic of the Philippines’ conformity to the 1949 Geneva Conventions and its Additional Protocols and the Statutes of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement,” Gordon said.

“It establishes and promotes the development of a duly recognized independent and autonomous non-governmental Red Cross Society that shall provide humanitarian relief and assistance in times of peace and armed conflict,” he added.

The bicameral conference committee reconciled the differences between Senate Bill 3285 and House Bill 6509. Senators Gordon and Juan Miguel Zubiri, Chairman of the Senate panel, and Representatives Ma. Carissa O. Concolluella,  Albert S. Garcia, Cinchona Cruz-Gonzalez and Ma. Amelita C. Villarosa, chairperson of the House panel, were present during the meeting.

Gordon said the bill shall also exempt the Red Cross from payment of real property tax and of donor’s tax, which is deducted from the gross income of donors for income tax purposes.

Furthermore, the measure affirms that a central body, the Board of Governors composed of thirty (30) members, shall have the power to ordain, adopt and amend by-laws, rules and regulations of the PRC. The Board shall be composed of six (6) members appointed by the President of the Philippines, eighteen (18) by chapter delegates in biennial conventions and the remaining six (6) elected by the twenty-four (24) members already chosen.

The bill also states that it is unlawful for other people or entity to use the name and emblem of Red Cross, Geneva Cross and Red Greek Cross.

Gordon also that the bill also emphasizes that the Philippine Red Cross shall be a voluntary non-governmental society and an auxiliary to the government in humanitarian activities and specially in discharging its obligations set forth in the Geneva Conventions.

Philippine Red Cross staff and volunteers nationwide thank Chairman Gordon, Governor Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri and Congresswoman Carissa Coscolluela for authoring the bill and expediting the process of ratification.