Philippine Red Cross

Chairman Gordon Welcomes Filipino Hero Ralph Montehermosa, Celebrating Six Years of Lifesaving on Ocean Viking

Written on October 5, 2023. Posted in Features, News and Events.

Philippine Red Cross Chairman and CEO Dick Gordon got a courtesy call on 4 October from Ralph Montehermosa, the only Filipino rescuer with Ocean Viking, a cargo vessel conducting search and rescue activities in the central Mediterranean. The ship is chartered and operated by SOS MEDITERRANEE in partnership with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). During Mr. Montehermosa’s latest duty period on the ship, their fleet rescued around 1,000 migrants who experienced mishap at sea. He has been a rescuer with Ocean Viking for six years. Referred to by Chairman Gordon as a hero, Mr. Montehermosa says: “Masaya ako na nakaka-save ng buhay.”

Long after TY Odette devastated the country, PH Red Cross continues aiding storm stricken Provinces

Written on September 21, 2022. Posted in News and Events.

Long after Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai) has struck the Philippines, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), in partnership with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the German Red Cross, and the American Red Cross, continues in aiding severely affected communities in Visayas and Mindanao.

On 19 September 2022, the PRC, under the leadership of Chairman and CEO Richard J. Gordon, distributed emergency shelter assistance to 100 families and multi-purpose cash grants to 223 families in Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte. The emergency shelter assistance, worth P9,600.00 per family, consisted of CGI (corrugated galvanized iron) sheets and shelter tool kits, while the cash assistance was P5,000.00 per family. The total amount of humanitarian aid distributed was P2,075,000.00.

“These cash grants and shelter tool kits are beneficial to their recovery. It will jumpstart the livelihoods of the affected families in Southern Leyte. It can ensure their recovery and help them start anew,” Gordon said.

This week’s recovery operations in Padre Burgos is part of a series of humanitarian aid distribution from December 2021 to September 2022 worth over P425 million, covering Southern Leyte, Leyte, Palawan, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Cebu, Lapu-Lapu City, Bohol, Dinagat Islands, Siargao, Surigao del Norte, Maguindanao, and Lanao del Sur.

Long after disasters are gone, the Philippine Red Cross continues to be there for the stricken communities.

PH Red Cross, Chairman Gordon – one of the best in the whole world says IFRC

Written on September 20, 2022. Posted in Features, News and Events.

No less than the current Regional Director of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) for the Asia Pacific, Alexander Matheou, exclaimed that the entire federation and the Philippines is extremely fortunate to have the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and its Chairman, Richard J. Gordon to lead the organization. Matheou said this during TY Odette Recovery Operations in the islands of Siargao and Dinagat, and in Surigao Del Norte that took place last Thursday, September 15, 2022.

“You know we (the Federation) are very lucky, you are very lucky, in the Philippines, you have one of the best Red Cross Societies in the whole world, and you have one of the best Red Cross Leaders in the whole world, Chairman Richard Gordon,” said Matheou as he spoke in front of the assistance beneficiaries in the island of Siargao.

Matheou said this after witnessing firsthand how PRC Chairman molded and led the entire PH Red Cross to efficiently and effectively bring much-needed assistance to the most vulnerable communities not only those who are affected by Typhoon Odette, but also other disasters that have struck the country in the last 20 years.

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC), in partnership with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and other partner national societies, provided cash and emergency shelter assistance to 1,803 families in San Benito municipality, Siargao Island; Surigao City; and Basilisa municipality, Dinagat Islands amounting to Php 14 Million in these provinces alone.

This is part of the more than P425 million humanitarian assistance allocated to families devastated by Typhoon Odette last December. Each families received Php 5,000.00 pesos to help them in their livelihood. Families who received emergency shelter assistance got Php 9,600.00 worth of shelter took kits, including heavy-duty corrugated galvanized iron sheets.

Matheou’s hailing of the PRC and Chairman Gordon’s leadership is not the first from the global movement.

In his trip to Marawi City last June of 2019, Peter Maurer, the President of the International Committee of Red Cross hailed Chairman Gordon for upholding humanitarian principles. Maurer extolled Red Gordon to promote the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement’s works and considers Gordon as a “reputational pride” in the international movement.

Also last June 2019, during his visit to the Philippines, the President of the IFRC, Francesco Rocca expressed his gratitude to the PRC Chairman and the PRC volunteers. Rocca highlighted PRC’s dedicated work and how it continues to inspire across borders.

Rocca also hailed the PRC last August of this year, during the Northern Luzon Earthquake, where PRC staff and volunteers immediately responded to areas affected by the magnitude this year.

“Leadership is action, not a position. I have instilled this in the thousands of staff and volunteers across our country. The PRC will always be there for the most vulnerable in our society, before, during, and even months and years after a disaster, we will continue to be there. Our mantra is ethos, Volunteers + Logistics + Information Technology equals to a Philippine Red Cross that is Always First, Always Ready, and Always There”, said PRC Chairman Gordon.

PH Red Cross continues to help TY Odette-affected communities in Bohol, Cebu to get humanitarian assistance

Written on September 7, 2022. Posted in News and Events.

Bohol and Cebu receives assistance from PRC 8 months after TY Odette

TRed Cross continues to help TY Odette-affected communities in Bohol, Cebu to get humanitarian assistance

More than eight months after Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai) struck the Philippines, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), in partnership with the American Red Cross and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), provided cash and emergency shelter assistance to 4,856 families from 19 barangays in Bohol, Cebu province, and Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu today, September 6.

Six hundred seven families received Php5,000.00 cash assistance, while 4,249 families were provided CGI (corrugated galvanized iron) sheets and shelter tool kits worth Php9,600.00. The total value of humanitarian aid distributed amounted to Php43.825 million. Today’s distribution is part of the more than Php455 million humanitarian and development assistance the PRC has allocated to families affected by Typhoon Odette and other calamities that affected Mindanao and Visayas from December 2021 to September 2022.

“Katulad ng sinabi ko sa simula ng 2022, hindi natin kakalimutan ang Typhoon Odette. Kaya nandito pa rin ang Red Cross para sa mga pamilyang lubos na naapektuhan, hanggang sila ay makabawi mula sa mga epekto ng Odette. Sabi nga ng Philippine Red Cross hymn, ‘When the world no longer watches, we do what must be done,’” Gordon emphasized.

Other partners of the PRC in these activities are the German Red Cross, the Spanish Red Cross, and the European Union. PRC’s cash, emergency shelter, and livelihood assistance distribution also covers Southern Leyte, Leyte, Palawan, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Dinagat Islands, Siargao, Surigao del Norte, Maguindanao, and Lanao del Sur.

PH Red Cross to reach more than Php455 million humanitarian and development aid in Visayas and Mindanao this September 2022

Written on August 25, 2022. Posted in News and Events.

Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and CEO Richard J. Gordon reports that from December 2021 to September 2022, the PRC will have distributed more than Php455 million in humanitarian and development aid to Visayas and Mindanao. The figure represents only the cost of the humanitarian organization’s TY Odette response, TD Agaton response, and Peace and Development Project in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDBARMM). It does not include PRC’s other response operations and development projects in Visayas and Mindanao, such as its Covid-19 response.

“Mula noong bumagsak ang bagyong Odette noong December 2021, hanggang sa darating na September, tayo ay makakapamahagi na ng Php455 million na tulong sa Mindanao at Visayas. Namigay kami ng shelter assistance, hot meals, tubig, food and non-food items, psychological support, cash, at iba pa. At mula ngayong linggo, mamimigay ulit kami ng cash, shelter, at livelihood assistance,” Gordon shared.

In partnership with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the German Red Cross, the Spanish Red Cross, and European Union, PRC kicked off yesterday, August 24, its response, recovery, and development project distribution activities that will last until the third week of September.

Yesterday, the PRC provided cash and emergency shelter assistance to more than 400 families affected by Typhoon Odette in San Francisco and Pintuyan towns in Southern Leyte. Each family received Php5,000.00, CGI (corrugated galvanized iron) sheets, and shelter tool kits. The humanitarian aid distribution makes a total of more than 6,000 Odette-affected families in Southern Leyte who have received cash and emergency shelter assistance from the PRC since the typhoon made landfall on December 16, 2021.

The PRC team also went to Hilongos City yesterday and gave CGI sheets and shelter tool kits to 400 Odette-affected families. Earlier in the year, in March 2022, PRC granted cash assistance to 491 families in Hilongos.

In his message to the people of Southern Leyte, via Zoom, Gordon explained that other countries help the Philippines because the PRC also helps them. He added that the Filipinos have dignity and they receive help not because they are pitiful, but because they help themselves. “Masarap tulungan ang tumutulong sa sarili,” Gordon explained. “Kapag may mga ganyan [referring to disasters and emergencies], nag-a-appeal ako, nag-a-appeal po and Red Cross n’yo, at tumutulong ang iba’t-ibang bansa,” Gordon added.

PRC’s volunteers and staff then proceeded to Baybay City and provided cash assistance to 587 families severely affected by Tropical Depression Agaton, which caused heavy flooding and landslides in Baybay in April this year.

IFRC’s Head of Delegation in the Philippines, Alberto Bocanegra, praised the PRC via Zoom for its response to people affected by Odette and Agaton. “We are super proud of the work of the Philippine Red Cross, one of the most prominent National Societies worldwide — and of course the leadership of Chairman Gordon and Secretary General Elizabeth Zavalla,” he said.

PRC’s cash, emergency shelter, and livelihood assistance distribution from August 24 to September 8 will also cover Palawan, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Cebu, Bohol, Dinagat Islands, Siargao, Surigao del Norte, Maguindanao, and Lanao del Sur.

Philippine Red Cross Lauded by the Leader of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Written on July 29, 2022. Posted in News and Events.

The leader of 14 million volunteers and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) President Francesco Rocca, acclaimed the role of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) for its immediate response to the destruction wrought by the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that rocked Northern Luzon on July 27, 2022.

Mr. Rocca praised PRC’s First Aid and Emergency Teams for being at the forefront of every emergency in the country. He also conveyed the unity of the IFRC team spirit and expressed solidarity to the people affected by the major quake. Mr. Rocca was very proud that PRC has been doing its utmost to serve all its local communities.

The Chairman and CEO of PRC, Richard J. Gordon thanked him and said, “PRC lives up to its mantra of ‘Volunteers + Logistics + Information Technology = A Red Cross that is Always First, Always Ready, and Always There.’ This guides us to maintain our fidelity to serve humanity. We have always championed community-level action and we shall continue our efforts in localizing humanitarian responses for all. The 102 Chapters of PRC are always prepared and ready to take necessary actions whenever disaster threatens. Rapid response is crucial when disaster strikes because every minute counts. All our volunteers are aware of this and do their best to perform to the utmost of their abilities.”

Mr. Rocca lauded the role of the Philippine Red Cross in its many endeavors to localize humanitarian response and the continuous efforts of its Chairman Richard J. Gordon to take positive action in response to crises. Under Gordon’s leadership, PRC continually shows what can be done when humanity and dignity come first, solidified by the will to assist and protect people.

Red Cross mobilizes Kontra Polio Team

Written on October 16, 2019. Posted in News and Events. Leave a Comment

Armed with service kits and vaccines, volunteers of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) braved the heat of the sun and conducted door-to-door vaccination for children ages 0 to 5. PRC, through its chapters from NCR (Manila, Pasay, Quezon City, Marikina, Caloocan, Navotas, Valenzuela, Taguig, Muntinlupa and Las Piñas) and Mindanao (Davao City, Davao del Sur and Lanao del Sur) joined the Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio campaign of the Department of Health (DOH) which kicked off on October 14.

Each vaccination team deployed to the barangays is composed of four (4) volunteers – a team leader, a health educator, a recorder, and a vaccinator. The team leader secures the list of the children to be vaccinated and leads the team to the households. The health educator explains the need for vaccination and gives advice on good health and hygiene practices – as a dirty environment encourages the spread of polio. The recorder gets the details of the child and the family, and also secures the consent for the vaccination. The vaccinator administers the vaccine.

This strategy not only ensures that vulnerable children are vaccinated and properly recorded but also provides an avenue to explain the vaccines to parents and guardians. The DOH recorded a 95% decline in polio vaccination among children below 5 years old last year.

“It is through the power of [our] pool of volunteers that the Red Cross can help our partners in fighting polio in the ‘Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio,’” said Sen. Richard J. Gordon, the Chairman and CEO of PRC.

PRC, through the support of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the International Committee of the Red cross (ICRC), has been conducting various health campaigns in the light of recent emergencies like the measles and dengue outbreaks.

Here is the partial tally of vaccinated children thru PRC, as of October 15, 3 PM: * Manila – 377 * Pasay – 1,523 * Quezon City – 906 * Navotas – 220 * Las Piñas – 599 * Valenzuela – 315 * Taguig – 769 * Muntinlupa – 594 * San Juan – 178 * Malabon – 304 * Davao City – 1,458 * Davao del Sur – 38 (TOTAL 7,281)

PRC holds back-to-back cash grant distribution in CamSur, Albay

Written on March 22, 2019. Posted in News and Events. Leave a Comment

AID POURED in for 1,217 families in Camarines Sur and Albay as the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) provided multipurpose cash grants to help them recover from the aftermath of Tropical Depression Usman, which ravaged the southern part of the country in December 2018.

On March 19, PRC, in partnership with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, distributed P3,500 each to 917 families from Brgy. San Miguel and Brgy. Ombao Polpog in the Municipality of Bula, Camarines Sur.

This was followed by the distribution of cash grants to 300 most affected families Brgy. Maynonong, Brgy. Naga, and Brgy. Sugod from the Municipality of Tiwi, Albay on March 20.

Chairman Richard Gordon said the cash grant empowers the beneficiaries to start anew following the devastation of Usman.

“The Red Cross never forgets. It’s been three months since Usman displaced thousands and we are still here to assure people that they will never walk alone. We are here to give them options,” Gordon said.

The distribution of multipurpose cash grant allows families to prioritize their immediate needs to recover from the impact of the disaster.

Data from the PRC Operations Center shows that Usman damaged over 5,000 houses in Camarines Sur and Albay. Landslides and flooding also resulted in agricultural and livelihood losses.

PRC first dispatched a “humanitarian caravan” composed of water tankers and rescue trucks during the height of Usman.

Staff and volunteers also spent the New Year providing search and rescue, relief, water, and welfare assistance to affected communities in Camarines Sur and Albay.

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