MANDALUYONG, Philippines—As part of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) commitment to save lives and serve more vulnerable communities affected by the aftermaths of Typhoons Marce (Yinxing) and Nika (Toraji), as well as the possible impact of Super Typhoon Ofel (Usagi), PRC Chairman and CEO Richard Gordon mobilized additional assets to Cagayan on November 13. 

The second humanitarian caravan en route to Cagayan consists of a food truck, a 6×6 truck, a rescue boat, and an emergency response team. Last November 11, the PRC sent its initial humanitarian caravan composed of a water tanker, two food trucks, and two service vehicles in the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, and Aurora. 

“This just shows that we’re applying our mantra to be always first, always ready, and always there. Yesterday, we mobilized the second batch of our assets to serve more vulnerable individuals in need of our immediate assistance in Cagayan since Ofel is expected to make landfall there. We want to ensure that our chapters are fully equipped and ready to respond to any emergencies,” said PRC Chairman and CEO Richard “Dick” Gordon. 

According to the 11 a.m. advisory of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on November 14, Super Typhoon Ofel will continue to endanger Cagayan Valley. Ofel was located over the coastal waters of Divilacan, Isabela, packing maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour (kph) with gustiness of 230 kph. 

“Though we already provided a lot of humanitarian aid to our typhoon-affected kababayans in several areas, our work will continue because there’s a lot to be done,” added PRC Secretary-General Dr. Gwen Pang. 

As of November 14, approximately 5,000 people affected by Marce and Nika received hot meals, clean water, hygiene promotion sessions, medicines, health consultations, and child-friendly spaces, among others, from the PRC.