Philippine Red Cross

Red Cross eyes additional aid for North Cotabato and Davao del Sur

Written on November 25, 2019. Posted in News and Events. Leave a Comment

After visiting the emergency medical tents in Kidapawan City, Philippine Red Cross Chairman and CEO, Sen. Richard Gordon ordered for more tents with more beds to be added to avoid patients sharing beds with those caring for them as this may cause disease transmission. Along with these, portable toilets and water bladder will also be added to support proper hygiene and sanitation and to ensure adequate supply of water. As for Davao del Sur, shelter assistance will be given after assessment and another water bladder will added to the operating assets of PRC.

Red Cross volunteers and staff on the ground have provided the affected population with immediate relief items such ambulance to transfer the injured and hot meals to the evacuees. Distribution of tarpaulins and hygiene and sleeping kits also followed soon after as well as the deployment of water tankers and bladders. As the team further assesses the needs of the affected communities, PRC distributed more of these essential items to 777 families in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato and Magsaysay, Davao del Sur yesterday.

During the distribution, Chairman Gordon taught the beneficiaries about the 4Ps – predict, plan, prepare and practice. This aims to empower communities and teach them the importance of being prepared should disasters strike. Stressing that Red Cross is not a charity institution, Chairman Gordon emphasized the importance of preserving the dignity of the beneficiaries and not being a “hand-out” organization.

“We don’t want a culture na pahingi. Ang kultura natin dapat, “Kaya natin ‘to. Makakabangon tayo. The quicker people go back to their normal life, the better,” say Chairman Gordon as he eyes livelihood programs next. This is why the Red Cross distributes relief using the “latag system” preserving the dignity of the recipients as they personally pick their items up to carry them to their homes. Also, community engagement and consultation is done to better understand what early recovery program suits the community.

For Kidapawan City, 420 families received hygiene kits and food items while 357 families from Magsaysay received food items (FIs) and non-food items (NFIs) such as sleeping and hygiene kits, jerry cans and tarpaulins. Hygiene kits are vital due to the high risk of catching diseases in evacuation centers as these places are often crowded and practice of sanitation is a challenge. Jerry cans greatly help evacuees as water supply has been problematic since the earthquakes. Tarpaulins provide temporary shelter.

Philippine Red Cross Secretary General Elizabeth Zavalla and Board of Governor Member Armand Arreza were also present in the event, together with IFRC Operations Manager Patrick Elliot, ICRC’s Head of Cooperation and Acting Deputy Head of Davao Sub-Delegations, Richard Villena and Elliot Wood, respectively.

PRC provides the basic needs to ease the difficulties the affected residents are going through.

PRC recognizes local personalities supporting and promoting the Million Volunteer Run

Written on November 25, 2019. Posted in News and Events. Leave a Comment

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) gratefully acknowledges the relentless efforts of local personalities, including the media, in supporting the 5th Million Volunteer Run (MVR), the largest humanitarian run in the country.

These personalities have been helpful in promoting and disseminating the significance of the said fundraising event as well as the mission of PRC – to alleviate human suffering and provide adequate assistance to the most vulnerable.

“I would like to express my sincerest gratitude and give a salute to these people, for encouraging the public to participate in the largest humanitarian run in the country. Your support will enable us to provide the needs of families severely affected by calamities and conflicts,” PRC Chairman and CEO Richard Gordon said.

Local personalities who collaborated with PRC for the promotion of the Million Volunteer Run includes celebrities Robbie Domingo, Jerald Napoles, Kim Molina, Ogie Alcasid, Martin Nievera, Jeffrey Santos, news anchors Arnold Clavio, Connie Sison, Umagang Kay Ganda and Eat Bulaga hosts, Mayors Isko Moreno of Manila, Richard Gomez of Ormoc City and Vico Sotto of Pasig City.

“Anybody can run, we have so many things going, we really need funds because we have water tankers running around, gasoline is being spent in areas devastated by series of earthquakes that hit several areas in Mindanao last month, so we really need support. Everybody who contributes becomes a volunteer and becomes a person that carries the load, and not the one being carried,” Gordon added.

Gordon once again urged the public to do something life-changing and help Red Cross address humanitarian problems before they even occur.

The fifth Million Volunteer Run (MVR) will be held on December 8, at Quirino Grandstand, Manila and other parts of the country with the goal of raising funds to build the capacity of PRC’s 104 chapters by acquiring life-saving equipment, such as, ambulances, boats, fire trucks, and rescue vehicles; as well as conducting first aid and disaster resilience trainings in communities.

The funds will also further support the organization’s humanitarian interventions in areas hit by disaster and health emergencies.

For only P700, one can contribute to the cause by joining the run, which has two distances – 3k and 5k. The P700 fee covers a singlet, race bib, and an opportunity to be part of Red Cross 143 – a flagship program for community volunteers that enables them to be part of the front liners during response and disaster operations.

Moreover, PRC encourages companies and organizations to partner in the event. For details, contact +639175106343 or [email protected].

Red Cross prepares for the second round of Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio

Written on November 25, 2019. Posted in News and Events. Leave a Comment

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) is all set for the second round of the “Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio” on November 25- December 07, 2019, in the National Capital Region (NCR) and Mindanao.

PRC goal is to give Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) to 50, 000 children ages 0-5 years old. Immunizations will be administered by teams of PRC trained staff and volunteers. Each team consists of the Leader, the Vaccinator, the Recorder, and the Health Educator/ Hygiene Promoter.

“PRC staff and volunteers are working intensely to achieve a polio-free Philippines. PRC is going extra mile in giving vaccines to kids 0-5 years old. We conduct house to house visits to ensure that every child will be given OPV and be protected from Polio virus, “said Chairman and CEO Richard Gordon.

Trained PRC staff and volunteers administered massive oral polio immunization to 62,843 children from the PRC’s original target of 30,000 during the first round of immunization on October 14- October 27 across 27 cities and municipalities.

PRC conducted a multi-sectoral planning on November 15 and 20 in Mindanao and NCR, in preparation for the second wave of mass polio vaccination attended by Dr. Susan Mercado and Mr. Patrick Elliott of International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), UNICEF’s Drs. Amador Catacutan and Farkhad Imabhakiev, World Health Organization’s (WHO) Dr. Bezu Magullo, and Dr. Julius Velasquez of Department of Health (DOH).

“With the continuous efforts from PRC, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), UNICEF, World Health Organization (WHO) and the Department of Health (DOH), soon we will be Polio-free country again”, added Gordon.

Red Cross introduces Pula the giving bear

Written on November 23, 2019. Posted in News and Events. Leave a Comment

Launched during PRC’s tree-lighting ceremony on November 21, Pula was introduced along with a new line of merchandise as part of Philippine Red Cross (PRC)’s holiday gift catalog for the year.

Filipinos are known to have the longest and grandest celebration of Christmas. The “ber” months usually signify the start of the festivities. As the season of giving draws nearer, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) introduces another reason to remem-“bear” the true spirit of the season which is giving and sharing.

Introducing Pula – a huggable, warm teddy bear which is sure to bring comfort to those who are in need of loving kindness. Pula is a symbol of love, security and treasured memories because bears actually help us remember. Each purchase of this holiday treat will help PRC provide the needs of disaster-affected population.

With the price of Php 799 each, buying one bear will help provide an affected individual with 2-3 days worth of food supplies. Paying for two bears is equivalent to donating a hygiene kit while four bears are worth one mother and newborn kit. Five of these huggable fellows can make one shelter tool kit possible while six Pulas amount to one multi-purpose cash grant for a family.

The launch is part of PRC’s efforts to gather more funds to support the various operations being undertaken in connection with recent health emergencies and natural disasters. Families and individuals affected by health emergencies like the outbreaks of measles, dengue and polio, along with the series of earthquakes which rocked regions in Batanes and Mindanao, are in need of steady support as recovery and rehabilitation continue to require manpower resources, supplies, and equipment to complete.

PRC launches Help MindaNow: FB Digithon on Emergency Appeal for Mindanao Earthquake Operations

Written on November 23, 2019. Posted in News and Events. Leave a Comment

In this day and age, anything is possible with just one click – and that includes sending help to the earthquake-affected population in Mindanao.

On November 21, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) launched One for Mindanao: FB Digithon an Emergency Appeal for Mindanao Earthquake Operations. Using the power of technology, the live event was hosted and transmitted through social media to invite our countrymen to donate to those affected by the earthquakes in Mindanao.

Our partners and donors have pooled resources to support the affected population, however these are not limitless and funds are needed to replenish stocks as the situation is far from being over. Help is still needed and this digithon aims to bring the much needed aid to Mindanao with just one click of a button.

The goal of the event, which was hosted by Enchong Dee and Gretchen Ho, is to earn Php 3M in one hour. GCash, as one of PRC’s donation platforms, supported the fund-raising initiative through the use of its equipment and its official social media accounts which aired the digithon proceedings. (Please note that PRC and individuals do not promote or endorse any network or brand, the organization is open for donors and partners who share the same advocacy – to provide the needs of the most vulnerable.)

“We all have a role to play. And whether we like it or not, our actions affect the world around us. We all can choose to be a little kinder. Be a little more sensitive to the needs of others. Have empathy. Be patient. Help a little more,” PRC Chairman and CEO, Sen. Richard Gordon further urged everyone to care enough to share and spread the word on how to help.

The series of devastating earthquakes in the provinces of Mindanao has damaged 8,472 houses, 10 schools and 6 hospitals. A total of 143,700 individuals were affected with 5,761 families being housed in 20 evacuation centers.

PRC has been in the forefront of the operations since the first quake on October 16. Our staff and volunteers on the ground have provided relief with food items, hygiene and sleeping kits. The supply of water was also greatly affected prompting PRC to provide a total of 1.6 M liters of water to affected communities through five water tankers stationed in Mindanao. More help is needed and the public can do its share. Let us all participate in the relief effort.

PRC mobilizes army of volunteers as Typhoon Ramon batters Northern Luzon

Written on November 20, 2019. Posted in News and Events. Leave a Comment

In our quest to alleviate human suffering and provide adequate assistance to the most vulnerable, volunteers and staff from Philippine Red Cross (PRC) are working round-the-clock to help families and communities affected and displaced by Typhoon Ramon in Northern Luzon.

Although the weather disturbance with international name Kalmaegi weakened into a low pressure area after making landfall in Santa Ana, Cagayan, it brought heavy rains causing rivers and tributaries to overflow.

“We at the Philippine Red Cross continue to gather reports from our chapters and assessment teams in Northern Luzon so we can immediately know the pressing needs of the affected population and send the assistance that each particular area badly needs,”said PRC Chairman Richard Gordon.

PRC deployed its army of volunteers including teams to respond, assess and send reports of damages to lifelines and infrastructure like blocked roads and flooded are as such as in Santa Ana, Cagayan were 7 barangays submerged in waist-level water.

Aside from flooded areas, there were reports of power supply interruption in the Municipalities of Gattaran, Lal-lo, Camalaniugan, Aparri, Buguey, Ballesteros, Abulug, Pamplona, Claveria, Sanchez Mira, Sta. Praxedes, Sta. Teresita, Gonzaga and Sta. Ana.

PRC chapter in Kalingaalso reported power supply interruptions in the Municipalities of Luna, Sta. Marcela, Flora, Pudtol, Calanasan particularly in Barangays Sta. Felomina and Sta. Elena.

Communication lines were functional except for Calayan group of islands in Cagayan while the Ilagan-Divilacan Road in Isabela Province was impassable due to erosion.

PRC – Mt. Province Sub-Chapter provided sleeping kits and psychosocial first aid to six patients in Bontoc General Hospital after a footbridge collapsed in Sitio Futyang, Barangay Betwan Sadanga.

According to reports from the chapter, 11 individuals were affected by the said incident and were brought to Bontoc General Hospital, Luis Hora Regional Memorial Hospital and Barangay Betwan Sadanga Clinic.

PRC Cagayan Chapter distributed hot meals to evacuees in Barangay Quibal, in the Municipality of Peñablanca while volunteers and staff continue to assess the situation in Sta. Ana and Gonzaga.

In Apayao province, 3 pre-emptive evacuation centers were established, housing 13 families or 29 individuals.

PRC – Apayao Chapter also distributed hot meals and conducted child friendly space to 21 affected children and distributed hot meals to 186 individuals in Aurora Elementary school that serves as their evacuation center in Barangay Aurora in the municipality of Pudtol while 10 staff and volunteers were mobilized to assist and monitor the situation in Abra.

Meanwhile, PRC chapters are preparing for another storm with international name Fungwong that could hit Northern Luzon in the coming days.

The new weather disturbance locally named Sarah intensified into a tropical storm as it moved north-northwestward and threatened areas battered by Typhoon Ramon.

PRC and BomboRadyo conduct bloodletting in 24 cities

Written on November 20, 2019. Posted in News and Events. Leave a Comment

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC), in partnership with Bombo Radyo Philippines, conducted a bloodletting activity with a theme, “ A Little Pain, A Life to Gain” on November 16, 2019, Saturday in different Bombo Radyo and Star FM stations in 24 key cities nationwide.

A total of 4,135, 500 (cc) units or 8,271 blood units of blood were collected from 9,190 blood donors from various groups, such as, state forces, government employees, students and the private sector.

“Through our blood partners like Bombo Radyo Philippines, PRC is able to sustain and deliver safe blood for all. PRC is thankful and we are looking forward to a lasting partnership with Bombo Radyo”, said Philippine Red Cross Chairman and CEO Richard Gordon.

The Philippine Red Cross National Blood Services (NBS) has already dispensed 307,978 units of blood from January to Mid of November in 2019 alone. The PRC National Blood Center is the first blood center and the only non-hospital blood service facility in the Philippines to receive an international standard on quality management systems certificate (ISO 9001-2015).

Red Cross and other agencies put emphasis on prison health

Written on November 20, 2019. Posted in News and Events. Leave a Comment

“Red Cross is involved in practically everything, from responding to fire incidents with its fire trucks to medical emergencies with its ambulances. The latest involvement of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) is a flagship program of the International Committee of the Red Cross – prisons,” thus declared PRC and CEO, Sen. Richard Gordon in his opening message to this year’s biggest gathering of detention health experts and representatives from justice and health ministries in the Asia Pacific Region.

The 3rd Asia Pacific Prison Health Conference was held November 13-15 at the New World Hotel in Makati City. Aiming to build a network for prison health professionals, the conference is expected to provide a forum for sharing best practices and for finding solutions to various challenges faced by countries on the issue of prison health.

Most countries face the reality of not being able to put community health into prison health and Chairman Gordon proposed to start solving the problem by engaging concerned agencies in the equation, “We can start by saying, let’s have a regular meeting and an overview of what is happening in our prisons so that we can do the necessary things, we can monitor everything there. The other thing we can do is to digitalize the records of our prison system.”

The 3-day international conference did not only provide an avenue for discussions regarding prison health but also showcased products and artworks crafted by persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).

Chairman Gordon also said that he will involve other senators and congressmen to come up with measures that will put public health and prison health on the same level.

Stressing the urgency of the matter, he further urged the delegates, “We must realize that we cannot do it overnight but we have to have deadlines. We have to monitor our progress regularly. This is the best way to ensure we meet our goals.”

Philippine Red Cross sets up temporary medical facilities in quake-hit Mindanao

Written on November 19, 2019. Posted in News and Events. Leave a Comment

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) installed several medical tents in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato to address the health problems caused by the closing of several hospitals in Mindanao that were damaged by series of earthquakes last month.

Senator Richard Gordon, Chairman and CEO of the Philippine Red Cross said that basic health care remains a top priority of the PRC.

“We have to extend medical assistance to affected individuals and avoid possible outbreak of diseases since a number of hospitals are having difficulties in addressing the needs of their patients such as, limited number of rooms while others aren’t safe yet due to cracks as a result of powerful tremors,” Gordon added.

The PRC Health Services (HS) and Emergency Medical Unit (EMU) set-up 2 sets of 6×6 meter tents, 1 set of 6 by 9 meters tent, 20 cot beds and a generator in Kidapawan City Hospital.

These three air-conditioned medical tents are functional with improved roofing and one additional gazebo tent for duty volunteers, a ward, Out Patient Area and area for Delivery Room headed by PRC North Cotabato-Kidapawan City Chapter.

“We are very thankful for these tents na binigay ng Philippine Red Cross and PRC Chairman Richard Gordon, these will really help a lot of patients in providing protection from the weather. We didn’t expect na may mga bed pa nakasama. We are overwhelmed by the support of PRC,” Chief of Hospital, Dr. Hamir Hechanova of Kidapawan City Hospital, said.

As of November 19, the medical tents already catered 42 patients, 23 are currently admitted and 8 were discharged.

The PRC also mobilized a humanitarian caravan to further assist the affected communities in Barangay New Opon, Magsaysay, Davao del Sur. These humanitarian trucks are loaded with food and non-food items, water tankers and mobile kitchen.

These accomplishments could not have been possible without the support of PRC’s operation partners and donors– the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Embassy of Republic of Korea, San Miguel Food Corporation, Nickel Asia Corporation, Filminera Resources Corporation, Cabinet Secretary KarloNograles, Thome Ship Management (TSM) Group and Ramon Tulfo Good Samaritan Foundation Incorporated.

Since October 16, PRC has mobilized 569 volunteers, staff and Red Cross Youth, providing first aid to 84 individuals in 12 First Aid stations in Kidapawan City, Davao del Sur and General Santos City, distributing food items to 1,630 families in Davao Del Sur and North Cotabato.

Eighteen temporary shower facilities were installed in the Municipality of Magsaysay, Davao del Sur as part of PRC’s commitment to promote hygiene and sanitation whenever a calamity or disaster hits.

A total of 1,46,928 liters of water were distributed by PRC – Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion (WASH) to 5,690 families or 22,097 individuals in Davao del Sur and North Cotabato. The WASH unit also conducted hygiene promotion to 6,576 individuals, installed 40 portable toilets, and established 19 water collecting points also in Davao del Sur and North Cotabato.

The Philippine Red Cross distributed hot meals to 11,504 families in North Cotabato (8,766) and Davao Del Sur (2,738), administered psychosocial support to 3,921 individuals including child friendly spaces to 1,630 individuals in North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Davao Del Sur, General Santos and Sultan Kudarat.

PRC also deployed 20 water bladders from General Santos-Saranggani, Davao City, Leyte, Cebu, Agusan del Sur; 5 water tankers and 3 water treatment units to North Cotabato and Davao del Sur; 8ambulances from National Headquarters, South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Davao del Sur and Zamboanga Del Norte chapters and 2 additional mobile kitchens from Bacolod and Iloilo.

PRC uses resources provided by generous donors for these activities. The public can help PRC replenish these resources by donating through the following avenues:

BDO

Peso Savings: 00-453-0190938

Dollar Savings: 10-453-0039482

Swift Code: BNORPHMM

BPI

Peso Savings: 4991-0036-52

Swift Code: BOPIPHMM

Metrobank

Peso Savings: 151-7-151524342

Dollar Savings: 151-2-151002182

Swift Code: MBTCPHMM

Paypal

[email protected]

PRC readies for TS Ramon impact

Written on November 18, 2019. Posted in News and Events. Leave a Comment

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) has deployed ambulances and welfare desks to the provinces in Northern Luzon as ordered by Philippine Red Cross Chairman and CEO Richard Gordon, in preparation for the Tropical Storm (TS) Ramon with an international name Kalmaegi.

Relief necessities such as food items, hygiene kits, kitchen sets, sleeping mats, sleeping kits (blankets, mosquito nets, and plastic mats), tarpaulins, and jerry cans are set for rapid transportation and distribution to give aid to possible affected families in the Northern part of the country. Hot meals are also ready to be prepared and served.

“PRC staff and volunteers are on standby and ready to provide assistance to our fellowmen who will be hit by Tropical Storm Ramon”, said Chairman Gordon.

PRC Northern Luzon Chapters (Abra, Apayao, Aurora, Batanes, Cagayan, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Isabela, Kalingaand Nueva Vizcaya) have activated Red Cross 143 volunteers and Red Cross Action Team (RCAT) and are on a 24-hour duty (shifting schedule) in their respective chapters monitoring updates regarding TS Ramon, ready to be deployed.

Payloader prepositioned in Nueva Vizcaya and other search and rescue teams with equipment are also on standby in anticipation of the possible effects of the storm.

Tropical Storm Ramon has a maximum sustained wind of 85 kilometer per hour and gustiness of up to 105 kilometer per hour. It is expected to make a landfall in Northern Cagayan between Monday evening and Tuesday morning.

Philippine Red Cross | Humanitarian Organization in the Philippines

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Author: Joseph Esposo

Red Cross eyes additional aid for North Cotabato and Davao del Sur

PRC recognizes local personalities supporting and promoting the Million Volunteer Run

Red Cross prepares for the second round of Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio

Red Cross introduces Pula the giving bear

PRC launches Help MindaNow: FB Digithon on Emergency Appeal for Mindanao Earthquake Operations

PRC mobilizes army of volunteers as Typhoon Ramon batters Northern Luzon

PRC and BomboRadyo conduct bloodletting in 24 cities

Red Cross and other agencies put emphasis on prison health

Philippine Red Cross sets up temporary medical facilities in quake-hit Mindanao

PRC readies for TS Ramon impact

Philippine Red Cross

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