The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) attended to 100 individuals, or approximately 20 families, whose houses at Purok 5, Brgy. Tablon, Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental, were razed by a third-level fire last Monday morning, August 21.
Through its Misamis Oriental-Cagayan De Oro Chapter, the PRC deployed an assessment team with two personnel and a service vehicle with three first aiders to assist the families who lost their houses after providing hot meals, such as arroz caldo.
PRC Chairman and CEO Dick Gordon expressed concern for the affected families who had to evacuate. He reiterated the importance of PRC’s ongoing efforts to train at least one first aider in every household for emergencies such as this.
“The reason why we are pushing to have a first aider in every community, school, and home is because they will serve as the first responders during emergencies. Other forms of assistance will require time to reach the location of the incident, but if the first aiders reside within the community, we can deliver immediate medical attention and prevent loss of life,” he emphasized.
PRC Secretary-General, Dr. Gwen Pang said it is important to instill discipline in everyone to avoid accidents such as the recent fire in Cagayan de Oro as she urged the public to observe fire safety precautions to prevent indoor and outdoor fire incidents.
📢 Cavitye City Fire Update! 🙌
Yesterday, May 23, 2023, the Philippine Red Cross distributed Hygiene Kits to 714 fire-affected families in Cavite City’s Barangay 22A, 22M, and 28, at Ladislao Diwa Elementary School. Thank you to our incredible volunteers and partners for their support! Together, we’re making a difference. 💙🌟 #PhilippineRedCross #HygieneKitsDistribution #SupportingFireVictims #CommunityMatters
The Philippine Red Cross Rizal Chapter Taguig City Branch distributed hot meals and face masks to 127 individuals currently staying at Taguig Integrated School after the fire incident in Rodriguez Compound, Brgy. Sta Ana, Taguig City last January 1.
LOOK: Philippine Red Cross – Laguna Chapter provided food packs to two families affected by a fire incident in Casubuan St., Brgy. San Jose, Biñan, Laguna last January 1.
Days after a fire hit Sitio Seaside, Kulambo, Lapasana in Cagayan de Oro City, families are still the Lapasan Covered Court evacuation center. PRC Misamis Oriental-CDO Chapter deployed its relief team, distributing 5 kg of rice, assorted clothing, and water bottles to each of the 27 families still staying the evacuation centers. PRC volunteers also provided first aid and blood pressure taking to the families affected.
The fire in Lapasan happened last December 29, 2022, damaging 12 houses and affecting 29 families.
Minutes after the country welcomed the first hours of 2023, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Operations Center received reports of four fire incidents that occurred almost simultaneously in the National Capital Region (NCR). The PRC immediately deployed its firefighting and emergency medical services to help put out the fire that broke out in residential areas and a warehouse in Tondo, Taguig City, Quezon City, and Valenzuela.
“Kahit sa celebration ng Bagong Taon ay handa ang Philippine Red Cross na rumesponde sa ating mga kababayan na biktima ng sunog at iba pang insidente. Patuloy nating imo-monitor ang pangangailangan ng mga biktima at sasamahan sila hanggang sila ay tuluyang maka-recover sa nangyari,” said PRC Chairman and CEO Richard J. Gordon.
The PRC dispatched a fire truck with three personnel to Barangay Sta. Ana, Taguig City after a fire, which reached the third alarm, engulfed a residential compound at 1: 08 am on 01 January. An ambulance with three trained personnel followed the operation to provide medical assistance to victims. The PRC Taguig Chapter also mobilized its Red Cross 143 (RC143) volunteers in the area to coordinate with the Barangay officials and City Social Welfare Development (CSWD) and monitor the further needs of the fire victims who sought temporary shelter in Taguig Integrated School.
Meanwhile, a second alarm fire hit a warehouse in Barangay Payatas, Quezon City at 1:11 am and a residential area in Paso De Blas, Valenzuela at 1:30 am. The PRC immediately dispatched an ambulance to each fire incident and sent trained medical personnel to attend to the fire victims.
Another residential area was hit by a second-alarm fire in Barangay 254, Tondo two hours before 01 January. The PRC deployed a fire truck with seven personnel and an ambulance with two trained medical personnel to assist the victims.
The cause of the fire incidents, the number of families affected, and the houses burned are still being determined by authorities. The PRC resources such as ambulances and fire trucks are part of the humanitarian organization’s national response to ensure the safety of vulnerable communities in times of emergency.
Amidst preparations for the New Year’s Eve celebrations, the Philippine Red Cross immediately dispatched its firefighting volunteers and two teams of emergency medical services (EMS) personnel when a huge fire broke out at Market 3, Brgy. NBBN in Navotas City this afternoon.
The fire broke out around 2:20 PM and immediately blazed through a cold storage facility and a surrounding residential area, hitting the 3rd alarm.
PRC Chairman and CEO Richard J. Gordon immediately dispatched from PRC’s Malabon and Caloocan City Chapters a firetruck with six trained firefighting volunteers, augmented by two ambulance units with six trained EMS personnel to provide first aid support to the area.
“Pinaaalalahanan natin ang ating mga kababayan na mag-ingat at maging mapagmatyag sa anumang pangangib, lalo na ngayong bisperas ng bagong taon,” said Chairman Gordon.
As of press writing, the exact numbers of families and houses affected are still being assessed, but the PRC team on the ground estimates that about 100 houses around the burnt cold storage facility have been affected. The fire was reported to be under control as of 5:45 PM.
PRC will send hot meals and provide other relief items to the affected families once an official evacuation center is established by the local government.
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) quickly responded to aid the affected individuals in a fire that raged in a residential area in Brgy. Marulas, Valenzuela City last Friday, July 15.
At 3:10 pm, the blaze was raised to the fourth alarm; 72 families, with 246 individuals, were affected and an estimated 50 houses were damaged.
The PRC Valenzuela City Chapter, in coordination with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Valenzuela City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (VCDRRMO), and City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), dispatched its fire truck and ambulance unit. It served hot meals and distributed drinking water to 150 individuals and gave face masks to 50 persons.
Affected residents have sought shelter in Valenzuela National High School as the designated evacuation center. The blaze was declared under control at 5:00 pm.
“Ang Red Cross ay laging handa sa ganitong insidente. Agad tayong umaksyon upang magbigay ng tulong sa ating mga kababayang naapektuhan ng sunog sa Valenzuela City. Hindi natin sila iiwan hanggang maibigay natin ang kanilang pangangailangan at matiyak natin ang kanilang kaligtasan,” Chairman Gordon said.
Last Saturday, July 16, the PRC intensified its assistance in the community by conducting Health and Hygiene Dissemination and other services until the community reaches its recovery.
Volunteers and staff of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Laguna and Quezon-Lucena chapters distributed hot meals through PRC’s Hot Meals on Wheels Program to 100 passengers affected by the fire at Mercraft 2, a vessel that caught fire in Real, Quezon yesterday, May 23, 2022.
The Red Cross Welfare Teams also provided psychosocial support to 30 individuals at the Real Port Terminal and at the Claro M. Recto District Hospital, where some passengers were transported for treatment. Twenty passengers received health kits. The vessel had a total of 124 passengers.
The Philippine Red Cross immediately deployed two ambulance units with trained emergency medical services personnel at the scene after receiving a report on the fire. A total of 16 Red Cross emergency response and relief personnel were deployed.
“Tunay na maaasahan ang Red Cross volunteers and staff sa iba’t ibang parte ng ating bansa sa pagresponde sa pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan kapag may emergency,” Philippine Red Cross Chairman and CEO Richard J. Gordon said.
On May 23, 2022, the Philippine Red Cross responded to Mercraft 2, a RORO vessel that caught fire in Real, Quezon around 5:00 AM. The vessel was en route from Polillo Island to Quezon. More than 120 passengers were affected.
Immediately upon receipt of the report, the Philippine Red Cross Operations Center dispatched two ambulance units, one from Laguna and one from Quezon. Philippine Red Cross Welfare Services Teams from Laguna and Quezon also visited the 22 passengers transported to the hospital. A total of 16 Red Cross personnel were deployed. Red Cross 143 volunteers in the area assisted with the response, including the provision of hot meals to the affected passengers.
Red Cross 143 aims to promote a culture of self-help in communities, schools, and workplaces by developing a network of Red Cross volunteers who will prepare for disasters and respond rapidly to emergencies.
“Sa oras ng sakuna, maaasahan ang Red Cross 143 volunteers para tumulong. Hinihikayat natin ang ating mga kababayan na sumali sa Red Cross 143 para makakuha ng pagsasanay na rumesponde sa pangangailangan ng kanilang kababayan kapag may emergency,” Philippine Red Cross Chairman and CEO Richard J. Gordon said.
