Philippine Red Cross

PRC Chairman Gordon marks IHL Day with nationwide call to uphold humanity in conflict

Written on August 12, 2024. Posted in News and Events.

QUEZON CITY, Metro Manila — The Philippine Red Cross (PRC), led by Chairman Richard Gordon, stands in solidarity with the country in commemorating International Humanitarian Law Day on August 12. This year also marks the 75th anniversary of the Four Geneva Conventions of 1949.

This year’s celebration of IHL Day, themed “Kamalayan, Kaliga, Kapayapaan, Kaunlaran: Kalakasan ng IHL sa Bagong Pilipinas,” was held at Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City, hosted by the Department of National Defense (DND). A ribbon cutting ceremony was also held to open the photo exhibit, which showcases the country’s accomplishments in relation to IHL.

PRC Chairman and CEO Richard Gordon was joined by officials from the various member institutions of the National IHL Ad Hoc Committee such as the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

Among them were DND Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr.; AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner, Jr.; ICRC Head of Delegation Mr. Johannes Bruwer; CHR Chairperson Atty. Richard Palpal-Latoc; Executive Secretary Mr. Lucas Bersamin; DFA Secretary Mr. Enrique Manalo; Mr. Abunawas Maslamama, the senior minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM); and Balay Rehabilitation Center Exec. Dir. Josephine Lascano.

Gordon expressed the importance of the IHL and all states and stakeholders’ adherence to the Geneva Conventions, given war and armed conflict continues to cause harm to many people around the world.

“The IHL is meant to protect people — their lives and their rights — no matter the place, the time, their beliefs, their governments. Everyone has the right to live and live safely away from harm.We at the Philippine Red Cross live by the IHL’s principles. We strive to uphold dignity and alleviate human suffering at all costs,” said Gordon.

Since 1952, the Philippines has been a signatory to the 1949 Geneva Convention (known as IHL, Law of Armed Conflict, or Law of War). However, to strengthen the enforcement of IHL in the country, Gordon authored Republic Act No. 9851 or the “Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity,” which was signed on December 11, 2009.

This month, several PRC chapters will be holding activities to promote the IHL to the public and key stakeholders such as dissemination sessions for law enforcement personnel in Northern Samar and community leaders in Basilan; training of IHL disseminators in Davao City and Zamboanga City; and online IHL sessions for police personnel in Legazpi City.

To educate the youth on IHL, an inter-school essay writing and quiz bee competition centered on IHL will be held in Iligan City, while Naga City and Iloilo City will have debate competitions and dissemination sessions.

IHL Day is annually observed on August 12, in accordance with Executive Order No. 134, signed by former President Joseph Estrada in 1999.

Red Cross breaks ground for Cavite’s primary blood center in Imus

Written on August 2, 2024. Posted in News and Events.

IMUS, CAVITE — The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) has finally broken ground on the soon-to-rise Cavite Chapter headquarters office and the province’s first and primary blood center in Vermosa, Imus, Cavite on Aug. 2.

The three-storey office will house the Blood Center that has the capacity to host large blood drives, and conduct testing and processing of blood that will ensure steady supply of blood for Cavite’s hospitals and patients.

Since Imus is one of Cavite’s major cities, the local chapter aims to bring PRC’s blood services closer to the general public in the province, making it more accessible and responsive to the needs of communities. Specifically, the Chapter office will serve residents in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th and 8th Districts.

The Imus branch will also be the new main hub for the PRC Cavite Chapter’s operations, and will house a modern disaster communication center and storage for disaster response equipment; multipurpose facilities for trainings and workshops; and meeting spaces for support groups and community gatherings.

PRC Chairman and CEO Richard Gordon led the groundbreaking ceremony alongside Secretary General Dr. Gwen Pang, and PRC Cavite Chapter Chairman Dir. Gilbert C. Remulla. They were joined by Ayala Land Inc. Senior Vice President and Head of Estates Group Mr. Chris Maglanoc; Ayala Land Vice President and Senior Project Development Head of Ayala Land Estates Ms. Mayi Platero- Rodriguez, Okada Foundation Inc. President Mr. James Lorenzana; First Orient International Ventures Corp. Manager Mr. Ron Andre Lim; other officials from Ayala Land Inc., and Okada Foundation, as well as mayors and representatives of Cavite’s municipalities and cities.

“This is another step forward for the Red Cross as we extend our blood, health, and welfare services to more people in Cavite, and build a stronger Red Cross network in the country. This brings hope and confidence in the whole province of Cavite. Providing greater access to blood for Filipinos from all walks of life is one of our lifelong missions, and we will make sure that no request for blood is turned away, and all blood needs are met,” said Chairman Gordon.

“Having a central blood facility in Imus makes the Red Cross well-positioned to provide the blood needs of people in the province, and welcome blood donors from the region. This will also Improve the Red Cross’ capacity to deliver services to the people of Cavite and other nearby regions. Together, we are building a future where support and aid is readily available to people,” said Dr. Pang.

Early July this year, the PRC received a P60 million donation from the Okada Foundation to construct a Blood Center in Cavite. It will be built on an 859 sqm-property donated by Ayala Land Inc., located at the Vermosa complex in Imus.

Construction of the building and blood center will start in September this year, and are expected to be completed in September 2025.

“Ayala Land’s donation is a testament to our belief in the Philippine Red Cross mission to provide safe blood supply to the public, ensuring access to lifesaving blood transfusion, and other health services, as well as train 12,000 volunteers in the province,” said Ayala Land Senior Vice President Maglanoc.

Okada Foundation President Lorenzana added: “This is an opportunity for the Okada Foundation to give back to our people. Our foundation’s main goal is to make and implement projects for health and education. We believe in public and private partnerships to address the needs of our country.”

As of July this year, the Cavite Chapter has collected 8,609 and dispensed 6,728 blood units, serving 1,369 patients in the province.

Vermosa is a burgeoning mixed use Ayala Land Estate in Cavite, that is home to residential and commercial developments in the province. The complex offerings, which include retail establishments, residential dwellings, schools, sports facilities and open spaces make it an ideal place for the new Chapter headquarters, catering to locals and visitors alike.

New Red Cross Silang, Cavite branch

Aside from the groundbreaking ceremony, the PRC also inaugurated the Cavite Chapter’s new Silang branch that features its own blood collecting unit and blood station.

Gordon and Pang were joined by Cavite Chapter Chairman Remulla, Cavite 5th District Rep. Roy Loyola; and Municipality of Silang Mayor Edward Carranza in the inauguration; all of whom were guided on a tour of the facilities.

The new branch was funded and provided by the municipal government of Silang, while the renovations and fit-out construction of the office and facilities were supported by the PRC’s BloomberryProject. The project cost was around P1.8 million, funded partially by the Bloomberry Fund, and the PRC General Fund.

The Silang branch will occupy the left wing of the two-storeybuilding, while the right wing will be the location of the municipal government’s municipal dialysis center. Renovations began on Oct. 3, 2023, ending in June 30, 2024.

The areas covered by Silang Branch are the 5th District of Cavite (Carmona, GMA and Silang or CARSIGMA), including Tagaytay City.

Since the Silang Branch chapter began collecting blood on July 11, 2024, it has so far collected 160 blood units, dispensed 85, serving 33 patients.

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Ayala’s cancer hospital taps Red Cross as partner blood supplier

Written on July 26, 2024. Posted in News and Events.

TAGUIG CITY, PHILIPPINES – The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and Ayala Corp.’s Healthway Cancer Care Hospital (HCCH) on July 25 signed a memorandum of agreement to make blood supply affordable and accessible to cancer patients.

Under the agreement, PRC will deliver blood to HCCH weekly or as necessary during emergencies. Moreover, the hospital will support PRC in blood donation activities.

Signing the agreement were PRC Chairman and CEO Dick Gordon, PRC Secretary-General Dr. Gwen Pang, AC Health Chairman Fernando Zobel de Ayala, and AC Health Vice Chairman Cezar Consing.

“We’re still responding to those affected by the typhoon (Carina), but I came here because this partnership is very special to me. Ayala has been our partner for many years, especially during our fight against the pandemic. PRC and Healthway Cancer Care Hospital share the same mission and that is to alleviate the suffering of people,” said Gordon.

Pang added, “With PRC’s 108 blood service facilities, 32 blood centers, 76 blood collecting stations, and 15 apheresis centers, the partnership will be well supported. This is a crucial step in our fight against cancer. I’m confident that this partnership will have a positive impact on cancer care and I hope this will inspire more collaborations and partnerships for better health care for Filipinos.”

Consing said, “When they mentioned this partnership to me, I remember when two people close to me were in dire need of blood during COVID. In desperation, I called Chairman Gordon and told him our blood needs. Within two hours, blood was delivered. Hence, I think of no better partner than the PRC.”

De Ayala pointed out that “Ayala Corporation has always believed in the power of collaboration to drive positive change. PRC’s collaborative spirit and unwavering commitment have been instrumental in our journey as the first comprehensive cancer care hospital in the Philippines.”

As one of the country’s major blood suppliers, PRC collected a total of 538,666 units of blood in 2023. This year, PRC’s target is to supply 70 percent of the country’s demand for blood.

Since April, PRC has been partnering with various hospitals, starting with Cardinal Santos and St. Luke’s, to ensure adequate blood supply for vulnerable patients.

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Local groups donate P300,000 to Red Cross’ Blood Samaritan program

Written on July 17, 2024. Posted in News and Events. Leave a Comment

PARAÑAQUE, METRO MANILA – The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) received P300,000 in donations from the Manila Rose Lions Club, Wang Zhao Zhi, and Manila Volunteer Lions Club to fund the Blood Samaritan Program (BSP), which PRC Chairman and CEO Dick Gordon initiated in 2006.

The three groups contributed P100,000 each for the BSP, which will be used to cover the payment of blood processing fees of legitimate indigent patients in need of blood transfusion.

The donation was turned over at the National Blood Donors Month celebration and recognition ceremony on July 16 at Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Parañaque City, organized by the PRC Rizal Chapter.

On hand to witness the donation turnover were PRC Secretary General Dr. Gwen Pang, PRC-Parañaque City Branch Council Chairman Dir. Anson Ong, Parañaque City District 1 Representative Edwin Olivarez, and Parañaque City Mayor Eric Olivarez, along with representatives from the donor groups.

Dr. Pang, speaking on behalf of Gordon, pointed out that the number of Filipinos in need of blood transfusion remains high in the country.

“Unfortunately, in low and middle income countries, problem pa rin ang source of blood,” she said.

She urged the public to become “blood champions” or “blood advocates,” encouraging families, friends, and peers to donate blood through the PRC to sustain its blood banks.

From 2023 to July 2024, the BSP has served 75,544 indigent patients.

The ceremony, themed “20 years of celebrating Giving: Thank you, Blood Donors!,” honors PRC’s private and public sector partners, and its “Galloner awardees.”

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Red Cross signs agreement with private, gov’t groups for blood advocacies, emergency preparedness

Written on July 16, 2024. Posted in News and Events. Leave a Comment

PARAÑAQUE, METRO MANILA – The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) on July 16 celebrated National Blood Donor Month with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement on the collaboration of blood donation initiatives and emergency preparedness with 19 organizations, institutions, and government agencies.

The event, held at Ayala Malls Manila Bay, also recognized the organization’s private and public sector partners and outstanding blood donors.

PRC Secretary-General Dr. Gwen Pang, PRC Rizal Chapter Board Member Anson Ong, and other PRC officials signed the MOA with representatives from St. Mattheus Medical Hospital, Pasay-Parañaque Medical Society, Jose Rizal University, Olivarez College, PATTS College, West Bay College, BF Homes School, Jesus Cares Academy, Creative Minds Learning Center, Angel of the Holy Spirit School, University of Perpetual Help Dalta System, Philippine National Police Parañaque City, Bureau of Treasury, Ayala Malls Manila Bay, First Philippine Holdings, CW Marketing and Development Corp., Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Parañaque, Lions Club International District 301-A4, and Parañaque Filipino-Chinese Five Volunteer Association.

The agreement ensures that the PRC can mobilize medical personnel from hospitals and medical groups to support its large-scale disaster operations. Additionally, the schools, corporations, and institutions have pledged to support PRC’s service delivery programs and humanitarian campaigns, such as blood donation drives, RC143 volunteering programs, Red Cross Youth, and large-scale disaster response. Meanwhile, PRC vowed to train students, employees, and public servants in first aid.

PRC Chairman and CEO Richard “Dick” Gordon expressed gratitude to PRC’s partners. “We are establishing partnerships with different institutions and organizations to intensify our blood advocacies and prepare for crises and disasters. The partnership between the PRC and these institutions is a crucial step in ensuring preparedness for large-scale disasters,” said Gordon.

Recognized at the event were blood donors who have reached the milestone of donating one gallon of blood. Dr. Pang commended their contributions to universal access to safe blood supply.

The event, organized by the PRC Rizal Chapter and its branches, aims to strengthen PRC’s humanitarian efforts with key institutions within the chapter’s area of responsibility.

Among the guests were Parañaque City Mayor Eric Olivarez, District I Rep. Edwin Olivarez, and City Councilor Tin Esplana.

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Red Cross, surgeons group renew 12-year partnership to respond to disasters, mass casualty incidents

Written on June 13, 2024. Posted in News and Events. Leave a Comment

MANDALUYONG, METRO MANILA – Twelve years and counting. That’s how long the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and the Philippine College of Surgeons (PCS) have been teaming up to respond to disasters and mass casualty incidents.

On June 13 they renewed their partnership with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) at the PRC headquarters in Mandaluyong.

PRC Chairman and CEO Dick Gordon and PRC Secretary-General Dr. Gwen Pang signed the MOA with PCS President Dr. Vivencio Jose P. Villaflor III and PCS Treasurer Dr. Joselito M. Mendoza.

In the agreement, PRC and PCS vowed to optimize each other’s assets and medical services, including training surgeons in Emergency Medical Services for mass casualty incidents (MCIs) such as large-scale disasters, especially earthquakes and typhoons.

In the event that hospitals experience a shortage of beds for patients, part of PRC’s standard response is to build Emergency Field Hospitals (EFH). PCS’s member-doctors will then provide emergency medical duties to PRC’s EFH.

Dr. Villaflor cited PRC’s equipment and facilities as key factors in the partnership. These assets include PRC’s Volunteer Emergency Response Vehicles (VERV), Operations Center, and satellite internet.

Gordon thanked PCS for its continued collaboration and pointed out that PRC’s successful operations lie in its two million volunteers nationwide. The PRC, said Gordon, is considered one of the “best Red Cross organizations in the world.”

“We are focused, fast, friendly, flexible, and forward-looking. All of us are trained to act and think immediately when help is needed,” said Gordon.

The PRC-PCS partnership dates back to 2012. Since then, the two organizations have collaborated on several mitigation training sessions, including mass casualty incident simulation exercises, pandemic preparedness activities, and the PRC’s annual Traslacion Operation.

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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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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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