Philippine Red Cross | Humanitarian Organization in the Philippines

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) received a PHP 218,919.00 donation from Canon Marketing Philippines Inc. (CMPI) during a virtual turnover event last March 04, 2022. The donation is part of CMPI’s corporate social responsibility to aid the most vulnerable and those affected by Super Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai). 

The virtual turnover was attended by CMPI President & CEO Mr. Kazuhiro Ozawa, CMPI Vice President Mr. Anuj Aggarwal, CMPI Corporate Planning Head Mr. Eric Villanueva, CI-Tech President Mr. Tsutomu Sazuka, CI-Tech Vice President Mr. Rolando Martinez, PRC Assistant Secretary-General Ramon B. Murillo, and other PRC and CMPI executives.

“This donation is a gesture of our humble support for your initiatives. From the bottom of our hearts at Canon, we thank you Chairman Dick Gordon and the rest of the Philippine Red Cross for your dedication to serving those most in need. Mabuhay kayo,” CMPI President & CEO Mr. Kazuhiro Ozawa said.

“Thank you for choosing us as the beneficiary of your donation. We are very grateful for the support you have been extending to us. We hope and pray that your support and our partnership will continue throughout the years as we perform our humanitarian duties to the most vulnerable,” PRC Chairman and CEO Sen. Dick Gordon said.

“CMPI has been supporting PRC since early 2019 during the Batanes earthquake and Taal volcano operation in 2020. Through your trust, PRC has always been first, always ready, and always there to respond in every situation.”

No less than the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and CEO, Senator Dick Gordon, ordered the quick deployment of the PRC fire team which swiftly responded to a fire breaking out within the Baseco Compound at the Port Area District in the City of Manila. The fire started at around 8:40 AM, this Friday morning, March 4, 2022.

“Kaagad natin dineploy ang dalawang firetrucks natin at isang ambulansiya upang makatulong sa pagsugpo ng sunog diyan sa Baseco Compound. I also instructed the PRC Manila Chapter to send our Hot Meals on Wheels food truck, upang agad na may makain ang ating mga kababayan diyan na apektado ng sunog,” said PRC Chairman Gordon.

PRC sent two fire trucks along with a 15-man Emergency Response Unit team as well as an ambulance crew. The ambulance team treated and transported an injured patient to nearby Gat Andress Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center. As of 9:45 AM, the fire was already under control.

Additionally, PRC Manila Chapter will be deploying one of the Red Cross’ food trucks dubbed as Hot Meals On Wheels to feed 100 affected individuals.

“March is Fire Prevention Month, kaya naman pinapaalalahanan natin ang ating mga kababayan na laging mag-ingat upang makaiwas sa sunog. Ang Philippine Red Cross ay laging handang rumesponde at umalalay sa anumang sakuna, lalong lalo na sa pagsugpo ng apoy,” added Gordon.

Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and CEO Sen. Dick Gordon continues to deploy PRC’s Bakuna Bus, Bakuna Centers, and Bakuna Teams to help the local government unit in ramping up the vaccination efforts to protect unvaccinated individuals. Last February 21, 2022, PRC vaccinated 2,374 individuals in Navotas, Laguna, Tarlac, Pangasinan, General Santos, Sultan Kudarat, Lanao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, and Surigao del Norte.

Despite the lowering of COVID-19 cases in the country, Chairman Gordon urges everyone to get vaccinated or have additional protection through getting booster shots. Chairman Gordon said that it is imperative to get vaccinated to prevent severe cases due to COVID-19 and prevent another outbreak like what happened during the start of 2022, where the Department of Health (DOH) is reporting almost 32,000 new cases per day. Last February 21, 2022, the DOH reported 1,427 new cases.

“Kailangan ay magingat pa rin tayo sa COVID-19, kahit na bumababa ang kaso, dapat hindi natin kalimutan ang pag practce ng health protocols, ang pag-suot ng face mask, at pagsanitize ng mga kamay. Patuloy ang Red Cross sa pag abot sa mga malalayong lugar sa pamamagitan ng Bakuna Buses upang mabigyan proteksyon ang mga taong nangangailangan nito,” Gordon said.

Since March 2021, when PRC started its vaccination program, the humanitarian organization has already administered 1,020,230 doses of COVID-19 vaccines through the 17 Bakuna Buses, 26 Bakuna centers, and Bakuna team, to help the different local government units to hasten the vaccination efforts and protect the people from the virus. 

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Two months after Typhoon Odette wreaked havoc in the Palawan, Visayas, and Mindanao region, which affected hundreds of thousands individuals, The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) continues to provide clean and potable water in Lapu Lapu City last February 17,2022.

PRC distributed 12,000 liters of water in Brgy. Mactan and 12,000 liters in Brgy. Purok. Through PRC’s Water Sanitation and Hygiene Unit, the Humanitarian organization also conducted hygiene promotion to 390 individuals and 322 individuals respectively.

“Ang aming Layunin ay mainagat ang buhay niyo upang lumakas ang bayan niyo,” said by PRC Chairman and CEO Sen. Dick Gordon during the meeting on updates regarding Odette Operations. 

Through the leadership of its Chairman and CEO Sen Dick Gordon, PRC continues to aid the most vulnerable communities in Lapu-Lapu City affected by Typhoon Odette.

To date, PRC distributed 3,066 hot meals, distributed 753,00 of clean water, cleared 171 cubic yards of debris through PRC’s payloader,  and conducted hygiene promotion to 49,764 individuals.

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According to Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and CEO Sen. Dick Gordon, PRC is ready in case of water shortage in Metro Manila. The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) projects that Metro Manila may experience a water shortage by April or May, as Angat Dam levels continue to decline.

According to NWRB Executive Director Sevillo D. David, Jr. in a radio-television interview, “The level of Angat Dam is already at 196 meters. The ideal level would be somewhere past 200 meters.” “We are (trying to avoid) reaching 180 meters, which is the minimum operating level. But based on the projections and rainfall forecasts, we may reach this in April or May,” he added.

“Mayroon ang Red Cross ng 22 water tankers at 31 water treatment unit na handang tumulong kung magkaroon ng water shortage. Sa kasalukuyan ay naka deploy ito sa Palawan, Visayas , at Mindanao at patuloy pa rin ang pagbibigay ng malinis na tubig sa mga naapektuhan ng Bagyong Odette,” Gordon said.

Since the start of Typhoon Odette operations last December 2021, PRC has provided more than 9,749,873 liters of clean and potable water to the affected residents.

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With the commitment to curb COVID-19, deployments of the Philippine Red Cross(PRC) Bakuna Bus continue this week as teams travel to different areas in Metro Manila and Bulacan.  

According to the PRC Health Services, this week, the PRC Bakuna Bus will drive to Baclaran Church, Villamor Airbase, Philippine Air Force (PAF) and will also go back to Potrero Malabon, Navotas, Mandaluyong and Marilao, Bulacan in partnership with the ecommerce group, Lazada. 

Meanwhile, the PRC has supported the launch of vaccination for minors aged five to eleven years old in Veranza’s vaccination center in General Santos City as they administered primary shots last February 19, 2022. Out of the 102 vaccine shots administered by the PRC General Santos Chapter, 70 were primary shots for five to eleven-year-olds.

As of February 21, 2022, the PRC has administered 1,016,916 doses of vaccines while fully vaccinating 346,857 individuals since launching its vaccination program last March 2021. 

“We continue to do what must be done. This is why we go all out in responding to COVID-19 through our vaccination program as well as through our other initiatives such as testing, and isolation facilities. We remain true to our mission of reaching out to the communities by being always first, always ready, and always there,” emphasized Chairman and CEO Senator Dick Gordon.

“The help of the Red Cross doesn’t stop with providing hot meals, relief items, and giving access to safe and clean water. We will be here to help the people recover every step of the way,” said PRC Chairman and CEO Sen. Dick Gordon. 

Last February 22, 2022, volunteers from PRC Cebu Chapter traveled to the municipality of Alcoy, one of the hardest-hit areas in South Cebu to distribute shelter toolkits to 134 beneficiaries. 

According to PRC Cebu Chapter, the beneficiaries are families from Barangay Pasol, Pugalo, Atabay, Guiwan, ang San Agustin. ” Ang naturang distribution ay first batch pa lamang para sa kabuuang 392 na pamilyang naapektuhan ng Odette sa South Cebu, ” said Chairman and Senator Dick Gordon. 

Apart from providing shelter repair assistance to affected communities, the PRC Cebu Chapter also deployed its Hot Meals on Wheels Food Truck to provide meals for 542 individuals. 

As of February 24, 2022, the PRC Cebu Chapter has provided hot meals to 18,850 individuals, distributed 2,401,445 liters of water, held a session on hygiene promotion for 9,249 individuals, and has provided 1,289 sleeping kits and 985 hygiene kits since the aftermath of Super Typhoon Odette.