Philippine Red Cross

PRC welcomes IFRC President Kate Forbes to the Philippines; underscores disaster preparedness, resilience

Written on May 27, 2024. Posted in News and Events. Leave a Comment

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) today announces the visit of Kate Forbes, President of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to the Philippines from May 28 to June 1.

Ms. Forbes is the second woman to hold the highest position in IFRC, which oversees the operations of 191 national societies across the globe. Five months after winning the election in December 2023, Ms Forbes chose the Philippines as the first country to visit in Asia.

“The work of the Philippine Red Cross is critically important within the country and the region,” said Ms. Forbes. “With the increasing pressures of a warming climate, public health emergencies, and natural disasters, the Philippine Red Cross is at the forefront of strengthening communities and making them more resilient,” she said.

PRC Chairman Richard J. Gordon said the visit of Ms. Forbes is significant as this underscores IFRC’s ongoing efforts and successes in supporting disaster-prone countries like the Philippines. “The Philippines is frequently impacted by disasters. Ms Forbes’ visit to the country will highlight IFRC’s support in boosting disaster preparedness, and in further strengthening collaboration to enhance humanitarian response and recovery efforts,” Chairman Gordon said.

PRC Secretary-General, Dr. Gwen Pang, said the organization values the visit of Ms. Forbes highly as it showcases the significant impact of the PRC in supporting long-term recovery and building resilience in communities frequently affected by disasters. “The PRC remains steadfast in its commitment through the years to being ‘always first, always ready, and always there’ to provide critical humanitarian assistance,” Dr. Pang said, noting the transformative efforts in disaster management and community resilience initiatives led by the PRC.

“We are grateful to the international support and collaboration that such visits represent, further strengthening the PRC’s mission and the global Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement’s humanitarian goals,” she added.

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PRC, Cardinal Santos Medical Center join forces to augment country’s blood supply; Chairman Gordon urges other hospitals to follow suit

Written on May 15, 2024. Posted in Uncategorized. Leave a Comment

Mandaluyong, 15 May 2023 – The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and the Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CSMC) joined hands in a three-year Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) last May 14 to augment the availability of safe blood supply in the country.

PRC Chairman and CEO Richard “Dick” Gordon, PRC Secretary-General, Dr. Gwen Pang, and Assistant Secretary General for Programs Development & Services Dr. Christie Monina M. Nalupta signed the MOA with CSMC President and CEO Raul Pagdanganan, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Antonio Say, and Senior Vice President and Chief Finance Officer Ms. Marivic S. Mabuti. Several members of PRC’s Board of Governors also showed their support for the partnership.

Under the agreement, the PRC will serve as the blood products provider of CSMC, while CSMC will be responsible for distributing it to Filipinos in need. Chairman Gordon described the partnership as a “gamechanger” and a crucial step toward ensuring continuity and sustainability in hospital blood supplies.

“We are elated to have this partnership with one of the biggest hospitals in the country. You will treat people while we will look for blood and bring it to you when you need it. Through this partnership, I can assure you that you will always have adequate blood supply in your hospital,” said Chairman Gordon.

The Chairman also urged other hospitals to follow suit: “We can supply blood in every corner of the country because we have blood banks nationwide. If every hospital will follow this, then people needing blood don’t have to fret while looking for blood.”

In addition to ensuring an adequate blood supply, the agreement also stated that in the event that hospitals become overwhelmed or there are not enough beds for patients during emergencies, disasters, and mass casualty incidents, the PRC will build Emergency Field Hospitals (EFH) and CSMC’s member-doctors will be ready to provide emergency medical duties to PRC’s EFH.

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PRC, Bohol communities plant mangrove plants in coastal areas to mark Earth Day

Written on May 6, 2024. Posted in Uncategorized. Leave a Comment

Mandaluyong, April 25, 2023 – The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) launched its Mangrove Restoration Initiative in Bonkokan Ubos in Lila, Bohol last April 22, planting over 1,200 mangrove plants along the community’s coastline. The project is part of the organization’s observance of Earth Day and nationwide call for the utilization of nature-based solutions to mitigate climate change.

Mangroves are critically important to the ecosystem, as they provide habitat for thousands of aquatic animals, stabilize coastlines, and protect communities from storm surges and coastal flooding.

PRC Chairman and CEO Richard “Dick” Gordon has always reiterated the importance of collaboration and working with nature to build community resilience and foster sustainability, adding, “One way to empower communities and strengthen their capacity is to build partnership with them; involve them in the discussion, planning, and solution processes,” added Chairman Gordon.

This initiative is part of PRC’s Greening Red Cross Red Crescent Disaster Risk Reduction: Saving Lives through Working with Nature (Greening DRR) Project, supported by the American Red Cross, with a broader mission to use nature-based solution to strengthen the communities’ resilience against natural hazards and cultivate a culture of environmental stewardship and ownership among communities.

In 2021, the province of Bohol was among the provinces of Visayas severely hit by Typhoon Odette. Now, the PRC works with various stakeholders in Bohol, including communities and members of the local government unit, to kickstart the adoption of nature-based solutions in the province’s coastal areas.

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UPM Chancellor, Dr. Tee, thanks PRC during investiture ceremony

Written on May 3, 2024. Posted in News and Events. Leave a Comment

Metro Manila, 3 May 2024 – The contributions of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) to the progress and development of the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Medicine (UPCM) was recognized by UP Manila’s new and 10th Chancellor Dr. Michael L. Tee during his investiture ceremony last April 30.

Dr. Tee personally expressed his gratitude to PRC Chairman and CEO Richard “Dick” Gordon for initiating and spearheading the provision of full scholarships to 24 economically disadvantaged students of UPM. The PRC is notably the biggest full scholarship provider of the UPCM, covering the tuition fees, living allowance, and transportation allowance, among others, of medical students and those enrolled from allied health programs.

Chairman Gordon congratulated and thanked Dr. Tee for acknowledging the efforts of PRC. He also reaffirmed his commitment to helping the country address its shortage of doctors, particularly in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, as the majority of the country’s medical personnel seek better opportunities abroad.

“At the PRC, we only have the “common tao” but we have accomplished a lot. Imagine the possibilities if we could mobilize more doctors for our humanitarian responses. This underscores the importance of investing in the education and future of the youth because it ensures a far-reaching impact for the whole society in the long run,” said Chairman Gordon.

Dr. Tee also acknowledged the support provided by the PRC during countless fire emergencies at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) in recent years while Chairman Gordon also recognized Dr. Tee’s contributions to PRC’s COVID-19 Operations. It can be noted that Dr. Tee, in 2021, led the research study that validated the use of saliva for the diagnosis of COVID-19 – a collaborative project of PRC, University of Illinois, and UP Manila.

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Philippine Red Cross celebrates 77 years of transformative humanitarian service

Written on April 15, 2024. Posted in Features, News and Events. Leave a Comment

Today, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) is celebrating its 77 years of transformative humanitarian service to the country — offering an opportunity for PRC’s 102 chapters nationwide to amplify their common agenda and reaffirm their purposes and commitment to PRC’s mission and vision that have guided the organization for the past decades.

For over seven decades, the PRC evolved beyond its original conception as a blood collection agency and has now become a powerful instrument of change, dignity, and progress to the lives of millions of Filipinos during all kinds of disasters, including typhoons, earthquakes, armed conflicts, and disease outbreaks.

To provide the life-saving services it is recognized for, the PRC increased the quantity and quality of its logistics, assets, and facilities over the years. It strengthened the capacity of its Operations Center, a state-of-the-art command center connected to all the chapters across the country. The center ensures that the organization can promptly respond to any emergency, providing a coordinated response that maximizes the impact of the organization’s volunteers and logistics.

The organization also now boasts a fleet of 178 ambulances, food trucks, rescue trucks, fire trucks, humvees, amphibians, rescue boats, Volunteer Emergency Response Vehicles, water tankers with water bladders, and payloaders to clear debris in case of disasters. The MV Amazing Grace, a humanitarian ship, is another vital asset that provides rescue and relief items to various islands in the Philippines.

To operate these assets and logistics, PRC Chairman and CEO Richard “Dick” Gordon invested heavily in recruiting volunteers and developing an extensive network of trained emergency medical services personnel. Under his leadership, the PRC now has over two million volunteers across the country who can operate humanitarian assets, perform first aid, or respond to emergencies in their communities.

The PRC’s enhanced logistics, increased number of volunteers, and Operations Center fulfills the equation “Volunteers + Logistics + Information Technology = A Red Cross that is Always First, Always Ready, and Always There” – a mantra that guides PRC in its responses to vulnerable communities. Its focus on these three areas has enabled it to provide critical assistance to millions of Filipinos affected by natural disasters, pandemics, and other emergencies.

Over the years, Chairman Gordon, along with PRC Secretary-General Dr. Gwen Pang, also crystallised the need for immediate collective action to address climate change, advance gender equality, augment the country’s blood requirement, and improve the grassroot healthcare provision. These endeavors significantly enhanced the organization’s efforts to secure peace, sustainable development, and humanitarian aid. Chairman Gordon’s legacy will endure for years, as the PRC remains to inspire hope and aid for Filipinos in need.

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IFRC wraps up RMD meeting, PH Red Cross calls for enhanced financial sustainability initiatives

Written on April 14, 2024. Posted in News and Events. Leave a Comment

Metro Manila, 8 April 2024 – The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) is selected as one of the Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies (RCRC NS) assigned to develop advanced methods to strengthen the Resource Mobilization Development (RMD) and financial sustainability of NS in the Asia Pacific region.

During the three-day Joint Resource Mobilization Development (RMD) Meeting last April 3-5, facilitated by PRC and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the PRC, Fiji Red Cross Society, Mongolian Red Cross Society, and Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS), other NS, Partner National Societies, and International Committee of the Red Cross discussed RM development priorities and co-created country specific and regional implementation pathways towards improved financial sustainability.

PRC Secretary-General Dr. Gwen Pang shared that the meeting aims to provide a platform for RCRC NS to converse about the crucial need to advance the financial sustainability among national societies.

“We have to be forward-looking, to create more sustainable domestic solutions, and to formulate concrete plans of action. Change is not always easy but we have to ask ourselves how we can bring positive change to our financial stability. This is a chance to be more proactive and decide what financial sustainability would look like in the future,” said Dr. Pang.

FRCS Secretary-General, Ragigia Dawai; BDRCS Secretary-General, Kazi Shofiqul Azam, and MRCS Secretary-General, Bolormaa Nordov met with PRC Chairman and CEO Richard “Dick” Gordon to further discuss the initiative.

The PRC presented its long-term partnerships with the government and private sector and several of its self-sustaining programs, including commercial first aid, Blood Samaritan Program, and Ambulance Samaritan Program, and discussed how their significantly sustained PRC services.

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Phil Red Cross, IFRC continue to give hope in Cebu with 71 solar-powered shelters worth P30M

Written on March 28, 2024. Posted in News and Events, Uncategorized. Leave a Comment

CEBU, PHILIPPINES -The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) turned over 71 full shelters with solar-powered panels amounting to P30 million for families that lost their homes due to Typhoon Odette (Rai) on 26 March 2024 in Barangay Poblacion, Alegria, Cebu.

“As I’ve said, PRC stands for hope and we are always hopeful that what we are doing is paving the path for these families towards healing and recovery. Red Cross is not in the business of giving dole outs – we are in the business of giving hope. What’s also special about the additional shelters is that these are all solar-powered,” said PRC Chairman and CEO Richard “Dick” Gordon.

The Full Shelter Assistance (FSA) project focused not only in the Queen City of the South but also in Bohol and Surigao del Norte—the provinces severely affected by Typhoon Odette in 2021. Last May 2023, the PRC already turned over 70 full shelters in Talibon, Bohol.

The project was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Society (IFRC) under the leadership of the IFRC Head of Delegation Sanjeev Kafley and IFRC Program Coordinator Gopal Mukherjee, and the Municipality of Alegria.

Odette was the strongest typhoon that struck the Philippines in 2021 where more than half of Cebu’s population of five million were affected by the disaster according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) stated that in the province’s capital, Cebu City, the total damages brought by Typhoon Odette to infrastructure, utilities, and agriculture in Cebu City reached P1.7 billion.

In Cebu alone, the PRC and its partners already built 8,741 houses; repaired 1,263 houses; provided livelihood assistance to 8,854 families; cash grants to 12,517 families; and food items to 21,789 households. These provisions are part of the P1 billion worth of developmental projects given by the PRC to vulnerable people in the province because of Typhoons Odette and Ursula, Naga City Landslide, and COVID-19 pandemic.

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PRC unveils newly renovated Bohol Chapter, vows to strengthen service delivery in Visayas

Written on March 27, 2024. Posted in News and Events. Leave a Comment

Tagbilaran, Bohol – On March 26, Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and CEO Richard “Dick” Gordon and Secretary-General Dr. Gwen Pang, along with representatives from the local government unit of Bohol, celebrated the completion of renovations made to its Bohol Chapter, which sustained structural damage during the onslaught of Typhoon Odette in 2021.

The renovations, amounting to over P2.7 million, was made possible through the support of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Society (IFRC).

“I am proud that we are part of Bohol’s progress. When Odette happened, we were among the first in disaster responses and also the first to provide recovery operations not just in Bohol but in the rest of the country. We, at the PRC, are not mere spectators. We take actions, save lives, and leave a mark,” said Chairman Gordon.

The PRC is recognized to have provided the largest humanitarian aid in Bohol during Typhoon Odette and the 7.2 magnitude Bohol earthquake in 2013. Over PhP200 million worth of assistance was provided to families affected by these disasters alone, including provision of 420 full shelters and repair of 3,182 houses.

Chairman Gordon and Dr. Pang said that the renovation is one way to strengthen PRC’s service delivery in the region. “It is high time we give our countrymen in Bohol the best humanitarian service we can give,” said Dr. Pang.

“Each day, the PRC responds to various emergencies. It’s crucial for everyone to know the importance of empowering our communities, households, and schools with vital skills like first aid and disaster preparedness. We cannot save people if we are not there, but with a first aider in every home, immediate action becomes feasible.”

The PRC will recruit more volunteers, conduct first-aid training in communities, and facilitate blood donation drives in the forthcoming months in the Visayas region. At present, the PRC has a disaster resilience project in Bohol with focus on nature-based solutions.

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Philippine Red Cross strengthens commitment to Ricky Reyes’s Health and Beauty Caravan

Written on March 22, 2024. Posted in Uncategorized. Leave a Comment

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and PhilHair President and beauty guru Ricky Reyes strengthened their collaboration and formally launched this year’s Health and Beauty Caravan last March 20 at SM Megamall.

The Health and Beauty Caravan was first introduced on March 14 2022. From then, the PRC Health Caravan was able to support numerous beauty caravans in 67 communities, serving over 15,000 individuals, including mothers and the elderly.

“With the kindness of Chairman and CEO Richard “Dick” Gordon and Secretary General Dr. Gwen [and through the Health and Beauty Caravan], all the people [in] communities ay mararanasan ang alagang Red Cross [can experience the Red Cross care,” Mother Ricky Reyes said in an interview.

An initiative of Chairman Gordon, the Health Caravan is part of the PRC’s efforts to bring health services directly to communities. It offers free health consultation, health kit distribution, health and hygiene promotion, first aid training, blood typing, mother’s kit for pregnant women, routine immunization, and hot meal distribution to serve the most vulnerable.

At the event, Dr. Pang said the PRC is 100% committed to the initiative, adding, “We have recruited and trained over 500 new volunteers to accommodate the Health and Beauty Caravan. This year, we are targeting to reach 10,000 individuals.”

Representatives from Metro Manila Mayors’ Spouses Foundation Inc, Philippine Cancer Society, SM, and Mandaluyong Vice Mayor Menchie Abalos were also present in the event.

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PRC pays tribute to women’s contributions to decades of humanitarian work

Written on March 8, 2024. Posted in Features. Leave a Comment

In the midst of a humanitarian crisis, women and children are disproportionately affected. Crises exacerbate their vulnerability, expose them to violence, and limit their access to education, livelihoods, and healthcare. It is against this background that the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) is working to intensify and strengthen its Protection, Gender, and Inclusion (PGI) actions to address violence, discrimination, and exclusion in the context of humanitarian aid.

Today, the PRC joins the world in celebrating Women’s Month on the theme “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress” of the United Nations to show appreciation to all the women contributors of the PRC who helped bridge the gender gap and provide inclusive and sustainable assistance for all.

Women make up a significant portion of the organization’s workforce. The PRC has women volunteers, staff, and leaders in its emergency and disaster response, ambulance teams, and health services. One of PRC’s leaders is its current Secretary-General, Dr. Gwen Pang, who is also behind the Women’s Action for Gender and Inclusion (WAGI), a community savings group that allows women of all ages and backgrounds, especially in marginalized areas, to incorporate a culture of saving in their communities, thereby empowering them and bringing economic security closer to them.

Also among the influential women of the PRC are the late Mrs. Amelia Gordon, Mrs. Kate Gordon, Rosa Rosal, PRC Vice Chairman Corazon Alma De Leon, PRC Counselor Atty. Lorna Patajo Kapunan, PRC Assistant Treasurer Leonida “Baby” Ortiz, and PRC Governor Jenni Munar.

“We invest in women. They are among those who step up and keep their families strong in the midst of disaster or armed conflict. We are committed to providing assistance and enhancing lifesaving skills for women, teens, elders, mothers, and the LGBTQ community,” said Dr. Pang.

PRC Chairman and CEO Richard “Dick” Gordon expressed his gratitude and appreciation to all the women of the PRC: “Behind every successful project or activity of the PRC stands a woman. The women of the PRC have dedicated themselves to ensuring that the voice of women is heard and represented in every dialogue and every step of planning, designing, implementing, and evaluating the processes of the PRC’s humanitarian agenda.”

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Year: 2024