The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) now has 20 Bakuna buses, the latest of which is currently deployed in Pangasinan and is supported by the Coca-Cola Foundation.
The PRC Bakuna Bus is a bus whose interior is set up with facilities for administering vaccines, Covid-19 vaccines and supplies, and space for vaccinators. It is PRC’s way of bringing the vaccines and information to the people, assuaging their hesitations to get vaccinated.
“Patuloy ang ating laban sa Covid-19 sa pamamagitan ng bakuna at RT-PCR tests. Hindi titigil ang Red Cross na gawin ang dapat gawin upang marating ang herd immunity,” the PRC Chairman and CEO, Senator Dick Gordon, said.
Also dubbed “Health on Wheels,” the Bakuna Bus will provide a mobile Covid-19 vaccination capability in Pangasinan, initially to the fourth district, specifically to the municipalities of San Fabian, Mangaldan, San Jacinto, and Rosales.
Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and CEO Senator Dick Gordon led the inauguration of PRC Pangasinan-San Carlos City branch, complete with a blood service facility, PRC’s 100th such facility. The branch was built with support from San Carlos City Mayor Julier “Ayoy” Resuello and Pangasinan Third District Representative Rose Marie “Baby” Arenas, whom Chairman Gordon recognized in his address. This collaboration was made possible through the efforts of Ma. Rachel J. Arenas, a member of the Philippine Red Cross Board of Governors.
Chairman Gordon emphasized that blood saves lives, and has always encouraged blood donations. As the number one advocate of voluntary, non-remunerated blood donation in the country, Gordon explained that donating blood is a form of volunteerism.
Gordon recalls that the first blood service facility in the Philippines was that of the PRC. Today, PRC accounts for 51% of the country’s blood requirements. From January 1 to April 7, 2022, the PRC blood service facilities served 51,458 patients, dispensing 93,694 units of blood.
Gordon also recalled the long partnership of the PRC and the province of Pangasinan, both in responding to emergencies — such as the July 16, 1990 earthquake — and in preparing for disasters.
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) chapters in General Santos City-Sarangani Province and Davao de Oro assisted local governments in evacuating residents affected by the Low Pressure Area (LPA). As of 8:00 am today, April 7, 2022, 350 persons from 31 families are sheltered in one evacuation center in Sarangani while 739 persons from 266 families are in 15 evacuation centers in Davao de Oro.
“Because of our volunteers and staff on the ground, our logistics, and our information technology, Red Cross is always first, always ready, and always there to help our people during calamities like this,” the PRC Chairman and CEO, Senator Dick Gordon, said.
PRC WASAR (water search and rescue) team helped move 19 persons in Lagab, Compostela from their flooded barangay to the evacuation center. PRC volunteers and staff in Sarangani served hot meals to 350 evacuees from Kawas, Alabel through the PRC Hot Meals on Wheels. Trained staff also provided psychosocial first aid to adults and facilitated activities for children in a child-friendly space.
The LPA, which is located east southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, remains less likely to develop into a tropical depression in the next 24 hours, according to the 11:00 pm PAGASA report on April 6.
Philippine Red Cross (PRC) volunteers and staff in Catbalogan City, Samar report an increasing number of diarrheal cases in the city. The incident started on April 1, 2022. It is attributed to contaminated water, according to PRC staff in Catbalogan.
PRC Chairman and CEO Sen. Dick Gordon directed PRC volunteers and staff to coordinate with the local government unit for the appropriate response. “Nakahanda ang ating volunteers and staff na makipag-ugnayan at tumulong sa local government units sa mga ganitong health emergency,” Chairman Gordon said.
Based on the latest report from the PRC chapter in Catbalogan, there are now 124 cases, mostly children aged three to 15 years, from 16 barangays. Some were admitted to the Samar Provincial Hospital and Catbalogan Doctors Hospital.
PRC will continue monitoring the situation and provide support as needed.
True to its mantra of “volunteers + logistics + information technology = a Red Cross that is always first, always ready, always there,” PRC Chairman and CEO Sen. Dick Gordon, acting on information provided by its volunteers in the field, immediately deployed volunteers, staff, and resources to assist those affected by the floods in Sarangani and Davao de Oro. “Ang Philippine Red Cross ay walang humpay at laging handang sumaklolo sa ating mga kababayan sa anumang kalamidad,” PRC Chairman Gordon said.
The PRC provided hot meals to 350 persons, as well as psychosocial support and child-friendly space in Barangay Kawas, municipality of Alabel, Sarangani on the evening of April 4. PRC also sent a water search and rescue (WASAR) team and equipment to Barangay Lagab, Compostela, Davao de Oro on April 6.
The flooding incidents, which were knee-deep in Sarangani and about three to four feet in Davao De Oro, were caused by continuous rains. PRC operations started as early as the evening of April 4 in Sarangani and 3:00 am on April 6 in Davao de Oro. PRC continues its response today, in coordination with local government units.
More than 30 families — approximately 160 persons — in nine barangays in Alabel are affected, according to early estimates. In Davao de Oro, three municipalities are affected: Compostela, Nabunturan, and Monkayo. PRC will continue monitoring conditions in these areas and provide further support as needed.
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC), in partnership with local governments, has administered more than 20,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines and boosters in Negros Occidental from 2021 to 2022, fully vaccinating 9,421 persons as of April 3, 2022. This milestone comes at a time when the province has fully lifted mass gathering restrictions in Sagay City, La Carlota City, and E.B. Magalona, Pulupandan, and San Enrique towns.
Last April 1, 2022, Negros Occidental Governor Bong Lacson issued an executive order placing Sagay City, La Carlota City, and the municipalities of E.B. Magalona, Pulupandan, and San Enrique under Alert Level 1. Under Alert Level 1, business establishments and outdoor activities are allowed 100% capacity, subject to the local government’s guidelines. The rest of the province remains under Alert Level 2.
“Patuloy na tutulong ang Philippine Red Cross sa ating gobyerno para labanan ang COVID-19,” PRC Chairman and CEO, Senator Dick Gordon, said.
As it eases Covid-19 restrictions as of April 1, the Philippines has been opened to all nationalities of foreign tourists from all countries as long as they are fully vaccinated.
“Kahit ilang buwan na ang nakalipas mula nang humagupit ang Super Typhoon Odette, hindi pa rin titigil and Philippine Red Cross sa pagpapadala ng tulong sa ating mga kababayan,” Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and CEO Senator Dick Gordon said.
Since starting its response to Typhoon Odette in Lapu-Lapu City and Cordova town, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) has now distributed more than one million liters of water to affected residents of Lapu-Lapu City and the municipality of Cordova. Lapu-Lapu City and Cordova were among those hardest hit by Super Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai), which made landfall in the Philippines on December 16, 2021. Super Typhoon Odette affected 353 cities and municipalities, destroying or damaging more than one million houses in the Philippines.
PRC continues its assistance to Lapu-Lapu City and Cordova. As of March 31, 2022, it has conducted hygiene promotion activities among 65,966 individuals. It has also served hot meals to 3,166 persons and given jerry cans, mosquito nets, and tarpaulin to 451 families, among other forms of assistance.
Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan, on the city’s Public Information Office Facebook page, said the city’s doors are now open to welcome everyone, both local and foreign tourists, as long as they are vaccinated.
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Hot Meals on Wheels distributed hot meals to 233 evacuees in Coral na Munti Elementary School in Agoncillo, Batangas and to 330 evacuees in As-Is Elementary School, Laurel Batangas last March 28, 2022. Since the volcano erupted this year, PRC has distributed hot meals to 1,213 persons. PRC Chairman and CEO, Senator Dick Gordon, has directed PRC’s staff and volunteers to continue its response while the danger zone around Taal Volcano is on alert.
Two PRC emergency medical services, or ambulance, units are on standby, ready to assist in case of medical emergencies. The welfare desks and first aid stations in Coral na Munti Elementary School and As-Is Elementary School are also maintaining their posts. Last March 29, PRC staff attended the regional inter-agency meeting on issues and concerns relating to the 2022 national and local elections in areas under alert Level 3 due to the Taal Volcano eruption.
As of March 29, 788 families, or 2,832 individuals, have sought shelter in 17 Evacuation Centers (EC) located in different towns such as Laurel: 9 ECs with 364 families, or 1,277 individuals; Agoncillo: 5 ECs with 298 families, or 1,088 individuals; Alitagtag: one EC with 13 families, or 44 individuals; Cuenca: one EC with 4 families, or 17 individuals; San Luis: one EC with one family, or 4 individuals.
“Ang Red Cross staff at volunteers sa bawat chapter namin ay nakahanda para rumesponde sa ganitong mga insidente,” Chairman Gordon said. PRC also responded throughout the last Taal volcanic eruption in 2020.
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC), in partnership with local governments, has administered more than 30,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines and boosters in Bohol from 2021 to 2022. It has fully vaccinated 5,501 persons as of March 28, 2022.
The vaccinations are part of the PRC’s COVID-19 response throughout the country. As of March 28, 2022, PRC has administered 1,115,101 doses of COVID-19 vaccines and boosters. It has fully vaccinated 361,790 persons. Other PRC vaccination sites in Visayas include Negros Occidental-Bacolod City, Capiz. Aklan, Bogo, and Roxas City.
The Department of Health reports on its website Dashboard that 63,992,620 complete doses have been administered in the whole country as of March 9, 2022. The figure represents 59% of the total population of the Philippines of 109,035,343 as of May 1, 2020.
“Ang Philippine Red Cross ay hindi tumitigil na labanan ang COVID-19,” PRC Chairman and CEO, Senator Dick Gordon, said.
On PEZA’s 27th anniversary, Philippine Red Cross Chairman and CEO Sen. Dick Gordon receives the Galing Pinas Partnership Excellence Award.
PRC supports PEZA’s efforts and looks forward to a continuation of your confidence and that we maintain the bonds of our partnership so we can improve the quality of life and preserve the dignity of vulnerable Filipinos everywhere.
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.
