The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and CEO Sen. Dick Gordon has alerted all its services, chapters, and volunteers in preparation for the low-pressure area (LPA) which may develop into a tropical depression.
According to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the LPA located 1,945 kilometers southeast of Mindanao may develop into a tropical depression by Sunday and enter PAR on Tuesday. In line with this, Chairman Gordon reiterates the importance of the 4Ps of the Red Cross in times of disasters.
“Predict, Plan, Prepare, and Practice. Dapat marunong tayo mag predict kung kelan papasok ang bagyo, dapat tayo ay nag pa-plano kung saan ang mga evacuation centers kung sakali ang matinding pag-baha, we need to prepare, ihanda natin ang mga kailangan kagaya ng Go-bag na naglalaman ng Pagkain, medisina, tubig, at iba pang mga kailangan. And lastly, we need to practice para malaman rin ng iba ang gagawin sa mga pagkakataon na bumagyo sa ating mga lugar,” Sen. Gordon said.
PRC is beefing up its disaster management services through its local chapters as all rescue vehicles and emergency response units are ready for situations like this. Through PRC’s volunteers, logistics, and information technology, the Red Cross is always first, always ready, and always there in every situation where help is needed.
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) assisted in vaccinating persons deprived of liberty through the Bakuna Buses. The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) announced last December 08, 2021, that the jail facilities under its supervision are now free from COVID-19.
PRC, through the leadership of Chairman and CEO Sen. Dick Gordon, deploys the PRC Bakuna Buses in Cebu, Iloilo, and NCR. Chairman Gordon wanted to hasten the vaccination of PDLs to prevent COVID-19 from spreading inside the correctional facilities.
According to BJMP, More than 119,000 have already been vaccinated against COVID-19 and reported no new cases.
“Kahit ang mga nasa kulungan ay nararapat at kailangan mabigyan ng proper health care through vaccination. We need to act fast to beat COVID-19. Kailangan mabilis at walang maiiwan at lahat ay maprotektahan kontra COVID-19. PRC vows to continue its various initiatives to combat COVID-19 to alleviate human suffering and uplift the dignity of the most vulnerable,” Sen. Dick Gordon said.
To date, PRC vaccinated 736, 297 individuals through its 17 Bakuna Buses and 25 Bakuna Centers.
Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and CEO Sen. Dick Gordon immediately deployed PRC Firetruck and Ambulance with 10-manpower to assist 400 affected individuals by a fire incident that reached 3rd alarm at Brgy. Niog 1, Bacoor Cavite on December 06, 2021.
According to reports, an estimated 80 families and 50 houses were affected by the fire incident. PRC continues to conduct an assessment to determine the additional needs of the families affected by the fire.
“Kaagad natin ipinadala ang ating fire trucks, ambulansya, pati narin ang ating volunteers upang makaresponse agad sa sunog. magpapamahagi din tayo ng hot meals sa evacuation centers upang ang mga apektado ay may makain,” Sen. Gordon said.
PRC also deployed an ambulance and fire truck with 11 manpower to respond to a 2nd alarm fire at Mapulang Lupa Dos, Las Pinas, last December 06, 2021.
Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and CEO Sen. Dick Gordon said that the humanitarian organization is preparing its Emergency Field Hospital and medical tents due to the threat of Omicron Variant.
At the height of COVID-19 Surge last April 2021, PRC opened a 100-bed capacity Emergency Field Hospital at the Lung Center of Philippines and medical tents in National Kidney Transplant Institute to serve as an emergency ward extension to cater to COVID-19 positive patients. To date, PRC has catered more than 8,744 patients for its covid-19 response.
“Dapat lagi tayong handa. Kaya ipinapaalala ko ang 4Ps. We must predict, plan, prepare and practice. Kahit na wala pa ang omicron variant sa ating bansa, inihahanda na natin ang ating emergency tents kung sakaling tumaas ang kaso ng COVID-19. Nagawa na natin ito noon at patuloy natin gagawin upang makatulong tayo sa most vulnerable at wala nang mamamatay sa labas ng ospital,” Sen. Dick Gordon said.
Currently, PRC has 45 medical tents deployed in 32 hospitals to help mild to moderate COVID-19 cases. PRC Chairman Gordon vows to continue its operation as long as people need additional healthcare facilities.
Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and CEO Sen. Dick Gordon deployed the Hot Meals on Wheels to Brgy. 42-C pinagbuklod, Cavite City, to serve ready-to-eat meals to 150 individuals comprising of children, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, and pregnant women affected by the pandemic.
Recently, PRC procured additional 5 food trucks that will be prepositioned in the different local PRC chapters to provide immediate relief to people affected by disasters, calamities, and conflicts. To date, PRC has a total fleet of 28 food trucks.
“Tuloy tuloy pa rin ang ating mga Hot Meals on Wheels sa pagbibigay assistance sa mga most vulnerable groups na apektado ng COVID-19. Maliit lamang ito ngunit malaking tulong na rin dahil kahit papaano ay mabigyan sila ng makakain at hindi na nila kailangan lutuin. Sinisigurado ng PRC na ang lahat ng pagkain ay masustansya at ligtas para sa mga beneficiaries,” Sen. Gordon said.
PRC also deployed 20 manpower to vaccinate 1,117 individuals in its Bakuna center in SM Bacoor last December 03, 2021, in support of the national vaccination days which runs from November 29,2021 to December 03, 2021.
“We need to speed up our vaccination to achieve herd immunity before the new variant of concern reaches our country. I encourage everyone to get vaccinated in their nearest bakuna centers,” Gordon added.
“Kailangan lahat ng papasok mula sa ibang bansa kahit galing green or red countries ay dapat mag quarantine at magpatest upang masiguradong madedetect natin agad ang bagong variant kapag nakapasok sa bansa,” Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and CEO Sen. Dick Gordon said.
PRC’s COVID-19 response team already began its preparation once the Omicron variant, a new variant of concern, enters the country. Chairman Gordon also pushes to ramp up the testing to ensure the viral spread is accurate and real-time low.
PRC recently surpassed the 5 million mark for COVID-19 RT-PCR tests, accounting for 20% of the country’s national testing output. According to Sen. Gordon, we must not stop and encourage everyone to get tested regularly, because it is through the RT-PCR that we detect the virus.
PRC also participated in the National Vaccination days to support the local government unit in vaccinating more people as soon as possible. Through the 3-day vaccination drive. PRC vaccinated more than 54,559 individuals through its 17 Bakuna Buses and 25 Bakuna Centers nationwide.
“We must get vaccinated to protect ourselves from COVID-19. Sa papalapit na pasko siguraduhin natin na tayo ay mag practice ng health protocols, tayo ay bakunado at nagpatest upang maiwasan ang hawaan at maprotektahan ang mahal natin sa buhay,” Gordon said.
Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and CEO Sen. Dick Gordon encouraged everyone, especially the unvaccinated, to get their Jabs at the nearest Bakuna Centers as soon as possible due to the threat of Omicron Variant in the country.
Omicron Variant also known as B.1.1.529 is a new heavily mutated corona variant that was first detected on November 11, 2021 in Botswana. With over 30 mutations on its spike protein, it is now designated as a variant of concern by the World Health Organization.
PRC, through the directives of Sen. Dick Gordon, continues to vaccinate individuals in support of the National Vaccine Days from November 29, 2021 – December 01, 2021. PRC already vaccinated 32,638 through the 25 Bakuna Centers, 17 Bakuna Buses, and Bakuna Team Augmentation to support the local government units.
“We need to vaccinate more! Dapat lahat ng qualified magpabakuna ay magpabakuna na. Mayroong bagong variant na mabilis na kumakalat sa ibang bansa. Dapat handa tayo kung sakaling makapasok ito sa ating Bansa. Get vaccinated and protect yourselves and your loved ones,” Sen. Dick Gordon said.
Chairman Gordon also prepares PRC for possible new cases due to the threat of the Omicron variant. PRC already prepares its Emergency Field Hospital, Isolation Facilities, Oxygen tanks, Negative Pressure Ambulance, and Food Trucks that are ready for deployment to combat COVID-19.
PRC started its COVID-19 initiatives since the start of the pandemic and has been continuing in alleviating human suffering and uplifts the dignity of the most vulnerable who are greatly affected by the pandemic.
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) partners with Upsilon Sigma Phi to conduct a vaccination program to 300 UP Manila Students, in preparation for the opening of face to face classes on November 27, 2021, from 8 AM – 5 PM
Upsilon Sigma Phi is the oldest Greek-letter fraternity and is the oldest student organization of the University of the Philippines, founded in 1918.
In line with the fraternity’s imperative of service, Upsilon Sigma Phi together with the Philippine Red Cross and UP Manila Office of Student affairs will vaccinate students to create awareness of the importance of vaccination and promote a safe return of face-to-face classes in the University.
PRC Chairman and CEO Sen Dick Gordon is also an Alumnus of Upsilon Sigma Phi, agreed to partner to hasten PRC’s COVID-19 response and vaccinates the students of UP Manila.
“I am very glad for this initiative by Upsilon Sigma Phi to promote a safe return of face-to-face classes in UP Manila. We must ensure that the University is a haven for students,” Sen Dick Gordon said.
PRC, through the initiative of Sen. Dick Gordon, continues to fight COVID-19 through the implementation of PRCs responses such as Isolation facilities, Molecular Lab Testing, Emergency Field Hospital, Hot Meals Distribution, among others which aim to alleviate human suffering and uplift the dignity of the people.
“With a fleet of 17 Bakuna Buses, we were able to vaccinate 2,509 individuals yesterday. It is a joint effort by the Red Cross, the local government unit, and our donors for the Bakuna Bus to hasten our COVID-19 response and protect our fellow Filipinos from COVID-19, ” Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and CEO Sen Dick Gordon said.
PRC continues the Bakuna Bus deployment and assists the different local governments in its vaccination program. The Bakuna Bus vaccinated 2,509 individuals in Iloilo, Aklan, Capiz, Laguna, Batangas, and Bogo City on November 25, 20211.
To date, PRC has already vaccinated 576, 557 through the 17 Bakuna Buses and 25 Bakuna Centers. This is part of Sen Gordon’s initiative to speed up the vaccination.
Sen. Dick Gordon reiterates that everyone should still observe health protocols despite the lowering of cases. PRC continues its Covid-19 initiatives such as Isolation facilities, Emergency Medical Tents, and COVID-19 testing.
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) partners with Laguna Police Provincial Office to launch its COVID-19 vaccination program for persons deprived of liberty (PDL). PRC started to roll out its Bakuna Bus to begin the first day of vaccination and vaccinated 540 individuals in Binan City Police Station and 25 in San Pablo City police station on November 24, 2021.
PRC Laguna Chapter, headed by its Chapter Administrator Frank Gray Sorromero, targets the vaccination of PDLs in 24 Municipalities and 6 Cities in Laguna from November 24, 2021, to December 03, 2021.
“Tayo ay walang pinipili. Dapat masigurado natin na lahat ay protektado kontra COVID-19 at walang maiiwan ngayong pandemya,” PRC Chairman and CEO Sen. Dick Gordon said.
The Bakuna Bus will head to Santa Cruz and Pila Municipal Police Station on November 25, 2021, to continue its vaccination for persons deprived of liberty. PRC Laguna Chapter thanks Laguna Police Provincial Office Acting Provincial Director PCOL Rogarth Bulalacao Campo for the partnership in vaccinating the most vulnerable groups.
