Philippine Red Cross | Humanitarian Organization in the Philippines

Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and CEO Sen. Dick Gordon will lead the multipurpose cash grant (MPCG) distribution to 877 individuals in Mandaue City and Cebu City. Non-food items will be distributed to Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai) affected residents in Talisay City on January 06, 2022.

The MPCG will be in two different areas in Cebu. Chairman Gordon will first distribute PHP 3,500 cash assistance to 627 families at Mother Retrude Gym, Brgy. Jagobiao, Mandaue and will traverse to Brgy. Inayawan, Cebu City to distribute PHP 3,500 cash assistance to 250 families.
After the cash distribution, PRC will travel to Talisay Cebu to distribute relief items such as 500 sets of Hygiene Kits, 500 sets of jerry cans, 500 sets of sleeping kits, and 500 sets of tarpaulins.

At the height of Typhoon Odette, Chairman Gordon immediately deployed its payloader to assist in the clearing operations after Typhoon Odette wreaked havoc in the province, causing electrical posts and trees to block roads of debris. Water tankers are also utilized to provide clean and potable water to the affected residents.

PRC also set up a welfare desk to help stranded individuals to reconnect with their families. First aid stations are also put up to provide proper medical healthcare to the residents of Cebu.

“Sabay-sabay tayong babangon mula sa hagupit ni Bagyong Odette. Hatid ng Red Cross ay pag-asa sa mga labis na naapektuhan ng bagyo. Laging kaming narito upang tumulong para maibalik ang dignidad sa mga tao at makatulong na tumayo uli sa sarili nating mga paa,” Chairman Gordon said.

Through the leadership of Chairman Gordon, PRC is all-out in its Typhoon Odette Operation in Cebu. It cleared 315 cubic yards of debris using a payloader to make way for more relief. It then provided ready-to-eat meals to 5,169 individuals in Cebu through its Hot Meals on Wheels program, supported 71 individuals with psychosocial support, distributed 338,750 liters of water, and facilitated hygiene promotion sessions with 10,232 individuals.

To combat COVID-19, PRC conducted vaccination drives through its Bakuna Bus and Bakuna Buses and led the COVID-19 testing through establishing the Mandaue City molecular laboratory.

PRC also provided 8,671 houses in the province of Cebu.

Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and CEO Sen. Dick Gordon announced that he will not be able to attend the relief distribution scheduled for January 6, 2022, at Ubay, Bohol because of safety measures as the pilot tested positive for COVID-19 before departure. Last January 02, 2022, Chairman Gordon was not able to attend the cash distribution due to the inclement weather in the province.

Despite this, Gordon directed the PRC staff to push the relief distribution so that 315 of the most vulnerable families in the area can be given much-needed relief. Chairman Gordon and Bohol Governor Arthur Yap attended the event virtually. Each family received two tarpaulins and shelter tool kits to provide temporary shelters and help them recover from the damage brought by Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai).

“Gustong gusto ko pumunta sa Bohol upang makita ko ng personal at maassess ang iba pang pangangailangan ng mga naapektuhan upang matulungan sila makatayo sa sariling mga paa. Hindi na bago sa akin ang mga bagyo dahil sa 53 years ko bilang volunteer ay marami na akong disaster na nadaanan at kaya dinamihan natin ang kagamitan sa Red Cross para mabilis ang ating response. Sa pag hagupit ng bagyong Odette, agad natin ibinuhay ang mga lifeline sa lugar kagaya ng Clearing Operations sa daan, Pagtatayo ng VSAT upang ma restore ang communication, pagbibigay ng libreng hotmeals at malinis na tubig,” Chairman Gordon said.

The entire event was posted on Facebook Live through the PRC’s official FB page. The live broadcast was made possible through the use of the a very-small-aperture terminal or VSAT, a two-way satellite ground station with a dish antenna. Gordon personally directed the PRC team to bring a VSAT to Ubay to establish lifeline communications in the area. Ubay was the ground zero of super typhoon Odette in the Province of Bohol.

According to Chairman Gordon, three water tankers are deployed in the province of Bohol to provide clean and potable water, as water is one of the most basic necessities that the province needs. “Bago natin ilagay sa water tanker ay nililinis muna natin sa ating water filtration unit upang masigurado na ang tubig ay ligtas para sa mga residente ng Bohol,” Gordon added.

Gordon also said that PRC to conduct vaccination and testing in the area due to the increasing number of COVID-19 positive cases in the country. The Department of Health reported 10,775 new confirmed cases in the country.

“Hindi ko kayo papabayaan,” Gordon assured the public as Red Cross continues relief operations to Typhoon Odette-hit areas nationwide is still ongoing. “All out ang Red Cross sa buong bansa at naka-deploy ang aming kagamitan to alleviate human suffering and uplift the dignity of the people,” Gordon said.

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The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Humanitarian Caravan arrived at Roxas, Palawan, last January 02, 2022, to transport emergency relief supplies and other equipment and provide additional assistance to residents deeply affected by Super Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai).

PRC Chairman and CEO Sen. Dick Gordon deployed the 5th Humanitarian Caravan last December 27, 2021, to hasten relief operations in the province of Palawan. The Humanitarian Caravan contains the following: Water Tanker, Mobile Water Treatment Plant, Ambulance, Motorcycle, Food Truck, 10-wheeler Truck, 6-wheeler closed truck, 6-wheeler open truck, Land Cruiser, 1 unit VSAT, two units of Generators, Camping tents, Satellite Phone, 300 sets of Shelter Repair Kits, 1,000 pcs Jerry cans, 500 sets of Sleeping kit, 500 sets of Hygiene kit, 1,000 pcs of Tarpaulins, and 500 sets of Kitchen utensils. 

An hour after the Caravan arrived, the PRC water tanker immediately distributed 10,009 liters of clean and potable water to 1,860 individuals. Power lines in the area are still down, causing water pumps to be unworkable.

“Dumating na ang Humanitarian Caravan sa Palawan upang maghatid ng agarang tulong sa naapektuhan ng Bagyong Odette. Dala nito ay ang mga emergency supplies, rescue vehicles, water tankers, food truck, at mga non-food items. Bukod sa kagamitan, hatid dala rin nito ay pag-asa sa mga naapektuhan ng bagyo, at sa pamamagitan ng Red Cross ay muling makakabangon ang lahat,” Sen. Dick Gordon said.

PRC continues Typhoon Odette responses in Cebu, Southern Leyte, Palawan, Surigao del Norte, Negros Oriental, Siargao, and Bohol, truly abiding by its mantra to be always first, always ready, and always there.

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) distributed hot meals to more than 700 evacuees in Bais Evacuation Center in Bais City, Negros Oriental, one of the hardest hit towns following the onslaught of Super Typhoon Odette, last January 02, 2022. 

“No matter what the circumstances are, we will always be the first responders whenever a disaster or emergency strikes as we continue with our mission to send hope, especially to the most vulnerable,” said PRC Chairman and CEO Senator Dick Gordon.

Recently, the PRC Negros Oriental chapter has distributed food items to 158 individuals at Bala-as Manjuyod, hygiene promotion to 250 persons, and implemented water distribution through PRC water tankers in Bala-as Manjuyod and Tinaogan.

With the province currently under the State of Calamity, volunteers and staff also aim to provide 500 sets of food Items in the Mabinay Borders and deploy a water tanker in Bindoy to reach out to more affected barangays. 

Since December 18, 2021, PRC has been conducting typhoon Odette operations in Negros Oriental. Volunteers and staff assessed the damages, distributed water, and relief items, provided hot meals, conducted hygiene promotion sessions, prepared an ambulance with subsequent First Aid Stations, and set up a welfare desk to serve those affected by the recent super typhoon.

“We do, what must be done. Patapos na ang taon ngunit patuloy ang paghahatid natin ng pag-asa sa mga naapektuhan ng Bagyong Odette. All out ang Philippine Red Cross kasama ang ibat ibang staff at volunteers upang maibsan ang paghihirap ng mga tao,” PRC Chairman and CEO Sen Dick Gordon said.

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Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and CEO Sen. Dick Gordon deployed the PRC payloaders to conduct clearing operations to make way for more relief efforts. To date, 800 cubic meters of debris have been cleared in the Municipality of Libagon, Southern Leyte.

PRC Southern Leyte Chapter started the year with more commitment of service to humanity through visiting four Barangays in Caubang, Son-ok 1 & 2 ang Manglit, Pintuyan. PRC Southern Leyte chapter also distributed 464 Shelter Tool Kits w/ Tarpaulins plus Psychosocial Support to the affected families. 

“Agad natin ipinadala ang mga payloaders upag magbigay daan sa mga tulong na darating pa sa lugar. Mahigit 800 cubic meters na ang na clear ng ating payloaders at patuloy ang ating clearing operation sa lugar. Magagamit din natin ang mga payloaders upang matulungan ang mga magsasaka na makapag tanim ulit,” Chairman Gordon said.

Through the leadership of Chairman Gordon, PRC was able to acquire seven payloaders to provide immediate assistance in clearing operations. The payloaders were commonly used after a disaster to clear roads of debris to make relief more accessible. Payloaders are also used to assist farmers in desilting  farmlands affected by different typhoons.