Philippine Red Cross | Humanitarian Organization in the Philippines

MANDALUYONG CITY, Philippines — The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) has activated its response and relief teams to assist communities affected by the southwest monsoon enhanced by Typhoon Julian (internationally known as “Krathon”).

Upon the directive of PRC Chairman and CEO Richard Gordon, PRC’s chapters in Northern Luzon are continuously preparing their assets and resources to ensure they are prepared for any emergency during the typhoon.

Since yesterday, September 29, RC143 volunteers from the Batanes Chapter have been mobilized to assist households in fortifying their houses against the heavy rains and strong winds, especially those whose homes are made from light materials. PRC staff in Cagayan and Ilocos Norte chapters have also conducted inventories of their blood supplies, first aid kits, as well as cleaned and stocked their food truck and ambulances.

Water, search, and rescue (WASAR) teams and emergency medical service (EMS) units have also been prepositioned and are on standby to assist stranded individuals in flooded areas.

As of 9 a.m. on September 30, the PRC’s Operations Center has monitored knee- to waist-level flooding in many parts of Laoag and Batac cities in Ilocos Norte, while light flooding and strong winds have been observed in Batanes.

Two evacuation centers were opened for families whose homes have been flooded in Ilocos Norte. 11 families or 87 individuals reportedly sought preemptive evacuation in four evacuation centers in Cagayan, while 31 families are currently in three evacuation centers in Batanes.

Today, PRC Chapters in Abra and Ilocos Norte will validate its record of evacuees, and provide hot meals to the people staying in some of the evacuation centers. The Batanes Chapter also plans to distribute information and educational materials in its evacuation centers.

All Chapters in the North are continuously monitoring their areas of responsibility and coordinating with their respective local governments for potential rescue and relief efforts.

“We are keeping a watchful eye on the developments of Typhoon Julian in the northern areas of Luzon. Rest assured, our local chapters are equipped with the necessary resources and manpower to efficiently assist during and after typhoons. Tuloy-tuloy man ang pagpasok ng mga bagyo sa ating bansa, tuloy-tuloy rin ang operasyon ng Red Cross,” said Gordon.

“You can rely on the Red Cross to be on the ground, ensuring that people are safe, have access to food and clean water, and are able to return to their homes to rebuild their lives,” remarked PRC Secretary General Dr. Gwen Pang.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Julian may develop further into a super typhoon by tomorrow, October 1, and is forecast to exit the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) by Wednesday, October 2.

As of 11 a.m., Batanes (and the Babuyan Islands), Ilocos Norte, and Cagayan were placed under the red rainfall warning of PAGASA, with serious flooding and landslides expected in those areas.

PASIG CITY, Philippines – The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) has once again teamed up with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for the “Dugtong Buhay Movement” bloodletting program on September 24 at the Philsports Complex in Pasig City, collecting a total of 313 blood units from donors from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA). 

The initiative aims to tap various government agencies in order to encourage government workers to donate blood, complementary to the daily blood donation campaign of the PRC. 

Among the honored guests at the program were DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, MMDA Chairman Romando Artes, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Mr. Richard Bachmann, MMDA General Manager USec. Procopio Lipana,  PRC Medical Officer Dr. Gerald Valeriano, PRC Gov. Jenny Munar, and PCG Deputy CG7 Commander Raymond Torremonia. 

This blood drive follows the first “Dugo Ko, Buhay Mo” bloodletting drive of the DBM, PCG, and PRC that was held last August 15 at the PCG headquarters in Manila. The event aimed to collect blood from hundreds of donors from the PCG and MMDA. 

“Blood cannot be manufactured. Every drop of blood that is given to a patient comes from the selflessness and generosity of people like our donors from the PCG and MMDA. Joint programs such as these are proof that strong public-private sector partnerships will bring us closer to ensuring blood is available and accessible to every Filipino. We thank Secretary Pangandaman, PCG Commandant Adm. Ronnie Gavan, and Chairman Artes for being our steadfast partners in this mission,” said PRC Chairman and CEO Richard Gordon. 

“We are grateful to the DBM for its staunch support of the Red Cross over the years, as well as the PCG and MMDA, especially in its commitment to help us reach our yearly blood donation targets. Having an adequate blood supply is essential since many people are in dire need of blood transfusions. We welcome the efforts of all partners and stakeholders in helping us reach this goal,” added PRC Secretary General Dr. Gwen Pang. 

“Red Cross is the only reliable organization that we can partner with in terms of getting support on the blood donation drive. The DBM is here to help and meet that 100 percent blood donation target,” remarked DBM Secretary Pangandaman. 

In 2023, the PRC collected 537,523 units of blood. From January to September 24, 2024, it has collected 425,769 blood units. Under the directive of Chairman Gordon, the PRC aims to provide 70 percent of the country’s much needed blood supply. 

MANDALUYONG CITY, Philippines — The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) received 70 units of 6.5KVa Honda Generator Sets from Honda Philippines Inc. (HPI) on September 17, providing much needed life-saving equipment for the organization’s humanitarian operations. 

The turnover ceremony, held at the PRC Logistics and Multipurpose Center in Mandaluyong City, was graced by PRC Chairman and CEO Richard Gordon, PRC Secretary General Dr. Gwen Pang, and officials from HPI led by its President Ms. Sayaka Arai and Mr. Jomel Jerezo, vice president for Sales and Marketing. 

“Adequate power supplies are essential to ensure that our operations continue in times of disasters and other crises. These generators will give our Chapters’ rescue and response teams the confidence to do their job and save lives. We thank Honda Philippines for their donation and constant support to the Red Cross over the years. You have been invaluable partners to us in our mission to uphold human dignity and alleviate human suffering,” said Gordon. 

He added that PRC personnel will undergo training for the proper use and maintenance of the generator sets. 

Dr. Pang remarked, “Power and electricity are critical to our day-to-day activities, especially when disasters strike. The generators will help us maintain communication lines, continue our emergency response operations and coordinate relief efforts, strengthening the Red Cross as an organization that communities can rely on.” 

This is the first batch of generator sets turned over to the PRC with the second batch scheduled for next year. 

“We at Honda, are committed to supporting trustworthy institutions like the Philippine Red Cross, as we share the common value of saving lives of the Filipinos. Under the banner of the Honda ❤️ You campaign, we mobilize the spirit of giving back to the community by taking a proactive approach to improving the quality of life of every Filipinos,” said Ms. Arai. 

HPI has previously donated P2 million to the PRC during Typhoon Odette in December 2021, and has given 104 motorcycles in 2020 to augment the PRC’s fleet.