Philippine Red Cross | Humanitarian Organization in the Philippines

disaster management services philippines

philippine red cross

social welfare services philippines

blood donation philippines

volunteer services philippines

health and services philippines
red cross philippines
  • Home

Category: News and Events

PH Red Cross steps up to the plate for those affected by STS Paeng

Written on . Posted in News and Events.

The Philippine Red Cross is escalating its emergency relief efforts to reach hundreds of vulnerable people in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao affected by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng  (international name: Nalgae).  As of 29 October, 170, 977 families struggle to cope with food shortages, lack of safe water, threats of contracting water-sanitation diseases, and displacement due to torrential rains and deadly flooding.

“Marami sa mga kababayan natin ang stranded ngayon dahil sa mataas na baha na dulot ng bagyong Paeng. Nakapagpamahagi na tayo at patuloy tayong mamahagi ng hot meals sa mga vulnerable communities. Ang ating mga water tankers, ambulance, at payloaders sa Luzon, Visayas, at Mindanao ay nakahandang rumesponde sa mga nangangailangan,” PRC Chairman and CEO Richard J. Gordon said.

To date, PRC has served hot meals to 1, 908 affected individuals across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. PRC Welfare Services, through PRC Cotabato-Maguindanao Chapter, set up several welfare desks in Cotabato City and Datu Odin Sinusuat to accomodate the needs of the most vulnerable. The foremost humanitarian organization has also provided hygiene promotion, Pyschosocial Support Program (PSP), and Psychological First-Aid (PFA)  to guarantee the practice of proper hygiene and ensure that affected families will receive the necessary assistance to cope and outlive the mental and physical trauma of flood and displacement.

STS Paeng, which made landfall on Saturday, 29 October, has inundated several parts of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. PRC asissted 115 stranded passengers in Romblon. Red Cross 143 volunteers are positioned in the municipalities of Buruanga and Nabas, Aklan. Food trucks, water tankers, payloaders, ambulance teams, generators, and rescue equipment are positioned in vulnerable areas for immediate deployment.

Distribution of relief goods and rescue operations by PRC Chapters nationwide continue as the number of flash flood victims rises. PRC will continue the monitoring of water level and dissemination of weather updates.

#

PH Red Cross Secretary General welcomes representatives from Borongan City LGU, explores cooperation possibilities

Written on . Posted in News and Events. Leave a Comment

Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Secretary General Dr. Gwendolyn T. Pang welcomed representatives from the local government of Borongan City to the PRC National Headquarters today, October 27, 2022.

According to Borongan City Councilor Frich Baylon Uy, their delegation’s main objective for including PRC in their “Lakbay Aral,” or study visit, is to “benchmark” what Red Cross has that they can adopt in Borongan City. He also expressed appreciation for how the Red Cross places importance on cooperative relationships with local governments. Councilor Jay Anthony Baleña Ang expressed hope for a collaboration between PRC and the city government in programs that aim to save lives.

Composed of officers from the Mayor’s Office, the city council, the city planning office, the city disaster risk reduction and management office, the Philippine National Police, and the Bureau of Fire Protection, among others, the delegation from Borongan City, Eastern Samar engaged in discussions with Ms. Pang and other PRC officials on safety services, such as first aid and emergency medical services, disaster preparedness and response, and blood services, among other topics.

Dr. Pang, a veteran disaster manager with the Red Cross not just in the Philippines but also in the Asia region, reminded the learner-visitors that no single organization has all the capacities in disaster risk reduction and response. She elaborated that agencies have different mandates and capacities, and a successful response to a hazard event depends on how well these agencies work together. She explained that the Red Cross is auxiliary to the government in its humanitarian tasks. “Magtulungan tayo. Kailangan sama-sama tayo. Pag pinagsama, lumalabas ang lakas nating lahat,” said Dr. Pang.

PRC, through its Eastern Samar chapter, located in Borongan City, has a long history of collaboration with the local governments in Eastern Samar, most notable of them being PRC’s response to people affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan), which was unprecedented in wind speed and effects.

PH Red Cross provides food, pyschosocial assistance to Filipinos repatriated from Sabah, Malaysia

Written on . Posted in News and Events.

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) is committed to supporting the humanitarian needs of the most vulnerable. Recently, these most vulnerable came in the form of hundreds of Filipinos repatriated from Sabah, Malaysia. PRC provided relief and psychosocial assistance to these returning countrymen, a total of 1,129 individuals.

“PRC, together with its staff and volunteers, will continue assisting our kababayans returning from Sabah, Malaysia,” said PRC Chairman and CEO Richard Gordon.

PRC mobilized 21 personnel and delivered hot meals, bottled water, and face masks to returnees. In addition to three welfare desks set up in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, PRC provided Child-friendly Activities (CFA) and Psychological Support Program (PSP) to 154 individuals to ensure that affected people will receive the necessary assistance to cope with the situation. Meanwhile, 138 returnees from Zamboanga City participated in hygiene promotion.

PRC Welfare Services, under the Restoring Family Links (RFL) program, provided free calls to 110 individuals in Tawi-Tawi and Zamboanga to restore and maintain contact between family members and returnees.

PRC undertakes a wide range of programs and activities prepared to ensure the safe and comfortable return of people overseas seeking repatriation.

PH Red Cross first aiders, ambulance teams on high alert for Undas 2022 amid threat of Bagyong Paeng

Written on . Posted in News and Events.

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) is preparing its medical assets and services to accommodate the anticipated increase of people in bus terminals, seaports, airports, highways, memorial parks, and selected thoroughfares following the easing of travel restrictions and reopening of cemeteries on All Saints Day and All Souls’ Day.

PRC will start its operation as early as Friday and will continue until Wednesday, 02 November to provide medical care to motorists and commuters visiting cities and provinces and ensure their safety.

“Nakahanda ang ating mga volunteers, staff, ambulances at first aid stations para samahan ang ating mga kababayan na uuwi at dadalawin ang kanilang mga yumaong mahal sa buhay. Naka standby rin ang ating mga chapters at relief operations sa pagdating ni bagyong Paeng,” said PRC Chairman and CEO Richard Gordon.

PRC will mobilize 1,104 trained first aid volunteers and 222 staff nationwide. Two hundred seventeen (217) first aid stations and 62 ambulances with first aid stations will be set up and positioned in 235 cemeteries nationwide as well as on major highways (Abra, Ifugao, Mt. Province, Northern Luzon Expressway, Sta Rosa Laguna, Davao Del Sur, Surigao Del Sur, Valenzuela Mcarthur Highway), bus stations, seaports, and airport for fast deployment in any untoward situation.

Meanwhile, PRC Chapters are on standby and prepared to provide relief and medical assistance following the report of Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) that tropical depression Paeng is projected to reach typhoon category by Saturday, 30 October.

PRC volunteers and staff are continuously reminding the public to strictly follow minimum public health standards on Covid-19, which entails wearing face masks, physical distancing, and proper washing of hands. Most cemeteries will require fully vaccinated individuals 12 years old and above.

PRC Safety Reminders:

• Use a seatbelt.

• Wear a helmet on a motorcycle.

• Drive at a safe speed and distance suitable for the conditions.

• Do not drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

• Do not use a mobile phone while driving.

• Know and respect the highway code.

• Maintain the vehicle in good condition.

• Be visible as a pedestrian or a cyclist.

• Know how to react in case of a crash.

• Wear loose cotton shirts.

• Avoid bringing small children to a cemetery, if necessary, put a small piece of paper with their name and contact details in case they might get lost

• If under medication, don’t forget to bring your medicines

• Avoid bringing easily spoiled food

• Don’t forget to bring drinking water, fans, face towels, and umbrellas to avoid dehydration

• Remember “BLOW BAGETS” (Breaks, Lights, Oil, Water, Batteries, Air, Gas, Engine, Tires, Self)

For emergencies and any untoward incidents, contact PRC 24/7 Operations Center, dial 143 or 8790-23-00.

Gordon calls on DPWH and local governments in areas affected by the 6.4 magnitude earthquake in North Luzon to assess all buildings for damages

Written on . Posted in News and Events.

Following the 6.4 magnitude earthquake that hit Abra and contiguous provinces October 25 at 11:59 pm, Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and CEO Richard J. Gordon called on the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and local governments to assess all buildings for possible damages.

“I would like to suggest to DPWH and the local governments that they check all the buildings, since they might cave in if their foundation was affected, to ensure that people will be safe.”

Gordon gave assurance that the foremost humanitarian organization in the country is ready to respond to people affected by the earthquake. PRC volunteers and staff are on the ground assessing the needs in coordination with local governments. He added that PRC is fine-tuning its volunteer system in the barangays so that cogent reports are transmitted to the PRC Operations Center right after the impact of any hazard event, to enable PRC to provide humanitarian assistance “just in time, on time, all the time.”

No casualties have been reported by the PRC chapters in Abra, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Cagayan, and Isabela as a result of the earthquake on October 25.

For emergencies, people may call Red Cross Hotline 143, or (02) 8790-2300.

Philippine Red Cross Health Caravan provides medical services to more than 2,000 people in October

Written on . Posted in News and Events.

More than 2,000 clients and patients from Baguio City, Bataan, Batangas City, Bulacan, Ilocos Norte, and Pangasinan availed themselves of medical and health services from the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Health Caravan from October 1 to 22, 2022. One of the communities reached was Barangay San Jose, San Miguel, Bulacan, which experienced severe flooding in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Karding in September.

An initiative of PRC Chairman and CEO Richard J. Gordon, the Health Caravan serves as the conduit for delivery of basic health services to the most vulnerable communities. It is also an opportunity for nurses and doctors to volunteer with the PRC. Through its Health Caravan, the PRC promotes and protects health and prevent diseases.

“Laging nandyan ang Red Cross para magbigay ng essential health and medical services sa ating mga kababayan, lalo na ngayong panahon ng pandemya,” Chairman Gordon said.

In partnership with the local government units, the PRC Health Caravan is organized by PRC chapters’ volunteers and staff, with support from the Health Services Unit of the PRC National Headquarters. The program offers a combination of the following services: health consultation, health and hygiene promotion, first aid lecture-demonstration, Covid-19 vaccination, and bloodletting and blood typing services. Hot meals and health kits are also distributed to participants in some areas. The PRC Health Caravan has served around 10,000 clients and patients across the country since it started in March 2022.

PH Red Cross rushes aid to cholera-stricken town in Negros Occidental

Written on . Posted in News and Events.

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) stepped up aid to residents of Negros Occidental after several cholera cases were recorded in municipalities of Bacolod City, Silay City, EB Magalona, Victorias City, and Talisay City. The local government of Silay City and EB Magalona declared a cholera outbreak. As of October 21, the province reported a total of 26 confirmed cases and 78 suspected cases since September 27.

PRC, through its Negros Occidental Bacolod City Chapter, provided hygiene promotion (handwashing session and Zero Open Defecation Campaign) to 237 individuals and put water tankers, bladders, and water purification kits on standby for immediate deployment. The Hygiene promotion program of the PRC aims to deliver information on proper sanitation and hygiene to prevent water and sanitation-related diseases (e.g., cholera, diarrhea).

“Many of our kababayans from vulnerable communities suffer from infectious diseases because of poor sanitation and lack of access to safe water, and sometimes this becomes fatal. Kami, sa PRC (Philippine Red Cross) katuwang ang mga volunteers at staff, ay patuloy na maghahatid ng malinis na tubig, hygiene kits, at proper hygiene promotion sa

PH Red Cross assets on alert as Tropical Depression “Obet” projected to reach tropical storm status

Written on . Posted in News and Events.

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) is in the midst of preparation for the possible strengthening of Tropical Depression Obet. PRC’s rescue and relief assets, equipment, and volunteers are ready to move in anticipation of possible landfall on October 21 or 22.

Food trucks, relief goods, water tankers, and payloaders are in place and can be mobilized instantly. Ambulances, generators, and rescue equipment have similarly been pre-positioned in vulnerable areas.

“Kakadaan lang ni bagyong Neneng sa mga probinsya na dadaanan ni Obet, so saturated na ang lupa diyan, ibig sabihin we need to prepare for possible landslides. Naka preposition na ang payloaders namin kung sakaling magkaroon ng pagguho ng lupa. Access to roads ay isa sa mga lifelines na kailangan tutukan sa panahon ng disaster, kasama rin diyan ang kuryente, komunikasyon, at siyempre tubig, nakahanda ang Red Cross upang masigurado ang mga lifelines na iyan,” said PRC Chairman and CEO Richard Gordon.

PRC Secretary General Gwendolyn Pang stated, “The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) has committed health workers, volunteers, and staff trained and prepared to alleviate the sufferings of the most vulnerable, especially in the height and aftermath of disasters.”

TD Obet may cross extreme Northern Luzon or the northern part of mainland Northern Luzon. Northern Luzon is still reeling from the impacts of Neneng (international name: Nesat), which made landfall over Calayan Island in Cagayan province as a severe tropical storm on October 16, then exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) as a typhoon.

PH Red Cross Assets to the rescue of hundreds in CDO, Misamis Oriental

Written on . Posted in News and Events.

As residents evacuated their homes due to rampaging floodwaters that hit the eastern part of Cagayan De Oro last Sunday afternoon, October 16, 2022, the Philippine Red Cross immediately deployed personnel and assets to help families whose houses were submerged, swept away, or completely destroyed by flood waters.


“Nagdeploy agad kami ng aming 6×6 rescue truck sa area para tumulong sa pag-evacuate, binisita namin ang mga evacuation centers at nagpadala rin kami ng aming food truck na may dalang bagong luto at mainit na pagkain. Dalawang daang katao sa Bugo National High School ang nabigyan namin ng pagkain,” said PRC Chairman and CEO Richard J. Gordon.


According to the PRC’s assessment team, 1,532 families were affected by the rampaging floodwaters, damaging 360 houses and taking the life of at least one person.


PRC also plans to distribute non-food items to help 340 families affected by the flooding in Brgy Bago.

Cabuyao City BJMP sends commendation for PRC, Gordon’s swift response

Written on . Posted in News and Events.

The Cabuyao City Bureau of Jail Management and Penology presented the Philippine Red Cross and its Chairman and CEO Richard Gordon certificates of recognition in connection with the organization’s swift response in managing the cases of amoebiasis in Cabuyao City Jail, which affected more than 80 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).

“Hindi po kami nagdalawang salita at talagang naging napakabilis ng pagdating ng tulong na water tanker ni Red Cross nang malaman nila ang kondisyon ng mga nagkakasakit dito sa Cabuyao BJMP,” JSINSP Shiela Moliquino, the City Jail Warden cited.

Chairman Gordon quickly took action after reports from Red Cross Laguna Administrator Frank Sorromero confirmed clustered cases of diarrhea since September 16. The former solon reasoned that, “The goal of our penitentiary is to rehabilitate these individuals with hopes to have them reintegrated into society and given another chance at life – how can we successfully do that if they will feel neglected? Guided by our Red Cross principles of neutrality and impartiality – we should help all who are in need of help. Nakakulong man sila, basta kailangan nila ng tulong, they should be regarded with dignity and given due aid.”

The PRC was able to supply 470,000 liters of clean water for the whole jail compound with a population of 657 PDLs and 43 personnel. The bladders were also the only water source while pipes were being disinfected. PDLs were also provided with hygiene kits to keep themselves clean and free from diseases. Chairman Gordon also made sure that the “visitorless” PDLs, or those not being visited by their relatives were also given the much needed supplies to maintain their personal cleanliness.

The jail management expressed its immense gratitude to Chairman Gordon for his swift action and contribution to Cabuyao City Jail until its water contamination issue was resolved, further citing that the Chairman’s “work as a leader and a public servant is greatly admired. What you have done and what you will do in the years to come will be valued.”

Philippine Red Cross

Born officially in 1947, but with roots that traces back to the revolutionary days, the Philippine Red Cross has truly become the premier humanitarian organization in the country, committed to provide quality life-saving services that protect the life and dignity especially of indigent Filipinos in vulnerable situations.

Address: 37 EDSA corner Boni Avenue, Mandaluyong City 1550
Emergency Hotline: 143
Trunkline +63 2 8790 2300
Subscribe to our Newsletter

Follow Us

Check out our Apps

Copyright 2024 Philippine Red Cross