The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) stepped up aid to residents of Negros Occidental after several cholera cases were recorded in municipalities of Bacolod City, Silay City, EB Magalona, Victorias City, and Talisay City. The local government of Silay City and EB Magalona declared a cholera outbreak. As of October 21, the province reported a total of 26 confirmed cases and 78 suspected cases since September 27.
PRC, through its Negros Occidental Bacolod City Chapter, provided hygiene promotion (handwashing session and Zero Open Defecation Campaign) to 237 individuals and put water tankers, bladders, and water purification kits on standby for immediate deployment. The Hygiene promotion program of the PRC aims to deliver information on proper sanitation and hygiene to prevent water and sanitation-related diseases (e.g., cholera, diarrhea).
“Many of our kababayans from vulnerable communities suffer from infectious diseases because of poor sanitation and lack of access to safe water, and sometimes this becomes fatal. Kami, sa PRC (Philippine Red Cross) katuwang ang mga volunteers at staff, ay patuloy na maghahatid ng malinis na tubig, hygiene kits, at proper hygiene promotion sa
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) is in the midst of preparation for the possible strengthening of Tropical Depression Obet. PRC’s rescue and relief assets, equipment, and volunteers are ready to move in anticipation of possible landfall on October 21 or 22.
Food trucks, relief goods, water tankers, and payloaders are in place and can be mobilized instantly. Ambulances, generators, and rescue equipment have similarly been pre-positioned in vulnerable areas.
“Kakadaan lang ni bagyong Neneng sa mga probinsya na dadaanan ni Obet, so saturated na ang lupa diyan, ibig sabihin we need to prepare for possible landslides. Naka preposition na ang payloaders namin kung sakaling magkaroon ng pagguho ng lupa. Access to roads ay isa sa mga lifelines na kailangan tutukan sa panahon ng disaster, kasama rin diyan ang kuryente, komunikasyon, at siyempre tubig, nakahanda ang Red Cross upang masigurado ang mga lifelines na iyan,” said PRC Chairman and CEO Richard Gordon.
PRC Secretary General Gwendolyn Pang stated, “The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) has committed health workers, volunteers, and staff trained and prepared to alleviate the sufferings of the most vulnerable, especially in the height and aftermath of disasters.”
TD Obet may cross extreme Northern Luzon or the northern part of mainland Northern Luzon. Northern Luzon is still reeling from the impacts of Neneng (international name: Nesat), which made landfall over Calayan Island in Cagayan province as a severe tropical storm on October 16, then exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) as a typhoon.
