Philippine Red Cross | Humanitarian Organization in the Philippines

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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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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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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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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We, at the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), express our deepest concern for the 216 people reported by Agusan del Sur Provincial Health Officials, as having been hospitalized on Monday night due to a food- or water-borne illness in Brgy. Tandang Sora in Esperanza, Agusan del Sur.

The welfare of the people is of utmost concern to us and we are doing everything we can to ensure that every individual taken to the hospital is out of harm’s way at the soonest time.

We are comforted to learn from our chapter in Agusan del Sur that as of last night, 90 of the patients were already discharged and our local teams assisted the local government in taking a number of the patients to their respective houses. We will continue to follow up on their situation.

We have coordinated with the local government to ensure that the needs of the affected people are immediately addressed. We have also set up a welfare desk at Esperanza Medicare Community Hospital to help the remaining patients and their relatives. We provided medicines to help patients as some hospital executives alerted PRC of the need for increased medicines.

While the cause of the health emergency remains under investigation by the local government, our hot meals program in the province was suspended until the completion of the probe.

We will wait for the results of the ongoing investigation and extend our support to the authorities as they conduct the investigation. We will remain transparent and will closely coordinate with the local government on this serious matter.

As of 10pm on February 20, we have served 1,142 food packs in Agusan del Sur. For the entire Mindanao operation, from the time the province started experiencing shearline and trough of the low pressure area (LPA), we have provided sleeping kits to 916 families – 211 of which were sent to Agusan del Sur (AgSur); hygiene kits to 1,042 families – 286 of which went to AgSur; non-standard hygiene kits to 96 families; jerry cans to 1,042 families – 286 of which were sent to AgSur; and kitchen sets to 984 families – 518 to families in AgSur.

A total of 432 PRC volunteers and 59 PRC staff showed up to help Mindanao. About 3,020 families received non-food items; and prepositioned 140 pieces of cadaver bags, 50 of which were already utilized.

PRC sent an overwhelming response for Mindanao with eight food trucks, three water tankers, one 6×6 truck, five ambulance units, three relief trucks, three volunteer emergency response vehicles (VERVs), one buffalo tank, and four water bladders composed of 5,000-liter load and 10,000-liter load.

In a press conference on Tuesday, Esperanza Mayor Deo Manpatilan, Jr. was quoted as saying: “This is not the time to point fingers especially since the Philippine Red Cross only wants to help. There is an ongoing investigation. We hope to prevent the same situation from happening in the future.”

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MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The Rotary Club of Manila (RCM), Rotaract Club of Manila (RAC Manila), and Rotary Club of De La Salle University (RAC DLSU) signed a memorandum of agreement with the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) yesterday at RCM’s 27th weekly membership meeting in Makati City.

“We just sent 20 bags of blood in Davao de Oro because of the landslide. In this country, the Philippine Red Cross is the biggest supplier of blood. If you need blood, just call 143 and we will deliver blood to hospitals. We have the Blood Samaritan Program for those who cannot afford blood processing fees. Through this MOA, I hope that we can have an active partnership with the Rotary Club” said PRC Chairman and CEO Dick Gordon.

The agreement states that the RCM, RCA Manila, and RAC DLSU shall continue to conduct mobile blood donations every year with the PRC to ensure sufficient blood supply in the country. In 2023, the PRC supplied 60% of the country’s demand for blood; this year, the foremost humanitarian organization aims to supply about 70%.

Aside from the intensified blood donation partnership, the Rotary Club also encourages its members to be part of the PRC’s Enhanced Platinum Membership, a program that offers accidental, death, disablement, dismemberment, medical, burial assistance, and hospitalization benefits with an annual fee of P1,200. The members are also entitled to free ambulance service and one blood unit in times of need.

“This MOA sets the stage for Rotarians to donate blood within six months, and this will continue beyond my term. In fact, the major feature of our MOA is to have our members sign up as members of the Philippine Red Cross. We’re looking at the safety and welfare of our members through this joint venture with the PRC,” Rotary Club of Manila President Rafael Alunan III added.

The RCM has been an active ally of the PRC Blood Services since 2009; almost 300 blood units were accumulated in total. Aside from the blood donation partnership with the PRC, the RCM also donated more than 400 wheelchairs to numerous people with mobility impairments in the country through its Imagine Rotary: Mobility for Dignity program that started last year.

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LEFT-RIGHT: REACT Regional Chief, Dr. Antonio Agustin; REACT National President, Mr. Henry Bicoy; PRC Secretary-General, Dr. Gwen Pang, and PRC Assistant Secretary General for Corporate and Business Services, Mr. Ramon Murillo.

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and the Regional Emergency Assistance Communications Team (REACT) Philippines, Inc. signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) today to solidify their collaboration in humanitarian responses and intensify the former’s communication capacity in times of emergencies and crisis. 

PRC Secretary-General Dr. Gwen Pang signed the MOA with REACT National President, Mr. Henry Bicoy, and REACT Regional Chief, Dr. Antonio Agustin, at PRC’s National Headquarters in Mandaluyong. 

The MOA ensures that the PRC can call on and mobilize REACT’s first aiders, medical personnel, engineers, search and rescue teams, and radio operators, among others, during emergency and disaster operations. REACT also pledged to utilize its communication resources to help PRC fortify its communication capacity and support PRC’s service delivery programs and humanitarian campaigns, such as blood donation drives and RC143 volunteering program.  

PRC Chairman and CEO, Richard “Dick” Gordon, expressed his gratitude to REACT, saying, “We are looking for organizations, agencies, and individuals that can work with us in alleviating the sufferings of the most vulnerable Filipinos and REACT is definitely one of them. We stand ready to provide training to your first responders.”

Dr. Gwen Pang, in her speech, reiterated the importance of the partnership and its crucial role in supporting PRC’s operations: “In situations where internet and communication networks are unreliable, we use radios to communicate. This partnership with REACT is vital in the communication aspect of our humanitarian operations, especially those in geographically-isolated areas where there is limited network coverage.” 

REACT is the largest Radio Civic Organization in the country, and it first started its partnership with the PRC in 2008. PRC Assistant Secretary General for Corporate and Business Services, Mr. Ramon Murillo, and PRC Disaster Management Services Manager, Ms. Criselda Longga, were also present in the MOA signing ceremony. 

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