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75th gala event of the Philippine Red Cross Manila Chapter

On May 29, 2022, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Manila Chapter, one of PRC’s pioneer branches, celebrated the premiere humanitarian organization’s 75th anniversary through a gala that showed the role played by PRC in shaping the country’s history.

PRC Chairman and CEO, Senator Richard J. Gordon, in his inspirational message, called on all Red Cross volunteers and staff to aim high, take heart, be active, and be leaders in the Red Cross. “I’m sure we will never, never put our heads down, because service to the most vulnerable is the best service of all,” he said.

Held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the event was attended by donors, volunteers, staff, and public officials. It was one among a series of events to be held this year in celebration of PRC’s 75th anniversary.

Senator Cynthia Villar, one of the principal guests, commended PRC for being almost always the first organization to respond to emergencies and disasters. She said that this is what makes the premier humanitarian organization stand out. According to her, being a volunteer is a calling, which requires not just talent and competence but commitment and a compassionate heart.

Senator Villar appreciated the Philippine Red Cross volunteers, partners, and donors. She explained that there is great honor and privilege to be in a position to help others.

Other public figures who gave video or live messages at the event were President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Vice President-elect Sara Duterte, Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, and Congressman Amado Bagatsing.

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) welcomed delegates from the Saudi Red Crescent Authority (SRCA) on May 25-26, 2022.

Present during the event were Engr. Saad Mohammed Al Qahtani, SRCA Vice President for Shared Services and Head of Delegation, and SCRA delegates, Dr. Mohammed Al Swaiah, Director of Academic Affairs and Training, Mshael Al Yahya, VP Office Manager, and Abdulaziz Al Otaibi, International Relations and Partnerships Manager. They were welcomed by PRC Chairman and CEO Richard Gordon and PRC Secretary General Elizabeth Zavalla. 

PRC Managers shared with the delegates the different PRC services and best practices as possible areas of partnership. The delegates also visited the PRC Operations Center which serves as the nerve center of the organization that commands, controls, and delivers information.

“We are grateful that SCRA delegates are here with us to discuss partnership possibilities with the PRC. We are one in achieving our vision to alleviate human suffering and uplift the dignity of the most vulnerable,” Chairman Gordon said.

The delegates also explored areas of partnership in the National Blood Center, Molecular Laboratory, Hemodialysis Center, and Emergency Response Unit at Port Area, Manila and the PRC Manila Chapter in Intramuros.

The two-day visit aimed at establishing strategic partnerships in areas of mutual concern to both societies.

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Misamis Oriental-Cagayan De Oro Chapter, in partnership with the city government of Cagayan de Oro, has administered 45,888 doses of Covid-19 vaccines and boosters from 2021 to 2022 through the PRC Bakuna Teams, fully vaccinating at least 4,161 persons as of May 29, 2022. The Bakuna Teams started tracking the number of those fully vaccinated only in February 2022.

Cagayan de Oro City is currently under Covid-19 alert level 1, which means all interzonal and intrazonal travels and all outdoor activities are allowed, subject to the local government’s guidelines. The Philippines has been open to fully vaccinated foreign tourists from all countries since April 1, 2022. 

The PRC Bakuna Teams, deployed in SM Downtown Quantum, also supports one Bakuna Center in Cagayan de Oro City. Other PRC vaccination sites in Mindanao include Tawi-Tawi, Cotabato City-Maguindanao, Sulu, Davao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Sultan Kudarat, Marawi City, and Zamboanga City.

 The vaccinations are part of the PRC’s Covid-19 response across the country. As of May 29, 2022, PRC has administered 1,185,628 doses of Covid-19 vaccines and boosters in the whole country, with at least 372,780 persons fully vaccinated.

PRC Chairman and CEO Richard J. Gordon encourages those who have not been vaccinated and those who are qualified to have the first or second booster shots to get the shots, especially because the Department of Health has announced that Omicron subvariants have been detected in the country. “When the world no longer watches, we do what must be done. Mananatiling nandito ang Philippine Red Cross, handang umaksyon anuman ang magiging sitwasyon ng bansa laban sa Covid-19,” Chairman Gordon said.

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC), in partnership with local governments, has administered more than 9,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines and boosters in Aklan from 2021 to 2022 through the PRC Bakuna Bus, fully vaccinating 4,358 persons as of May 24, 2022. Included in the areas visited by PRC’s Bakuna Bus are the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and Aklan Rehabilitation Center. Other PRC vaccination sites in Visayas include Bohol, Capiz, Negros, Bogo, and Roxas City.

 The vaccinations are part of the PRC’s Covid-19 response across the country. As of May 25, 2022, PRC has administered 1,181,858 doses of Covid-19 vaccines and boosters in the whole country, with 372,553 persons fully vaccinated.

Aklan is currently under Covid-19 alert level 1, which means all interzonal and intrazonal travels and all outdoor activities are allowed, subject to the local government’s guidelines. The Philippines has been open to fully vaccinated foreign tourists from all countries since April 1, 2022. 

PRC Chairman and CEO Richard J. Gordon continues to encourage those who have not been vaccinated and those who are qualified to have the first or second booster shots to get the shots. “Hindi pa tapos ang laban natin sa Covid-19. Kagaya nang dati, ang Philippine Red Cross ay mananatiling nandyan para sa ating mga kababayan sa matagal na panahon, hanggang sa tayo ay maging ligtas sa peligro ng Covid-19,” Chairman Gordon said.

Red Cross at Valenzuela City for Health Caravan

Delivering health services directly to the communities, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), in coordination with the Valenzuela Barangay Councils, continued its Health Caravan in Barangay Marulas, Valenzuela City on April 7, 2022.

“Laging handa ang Red Cross na magbigay serbisyo sa ating mga kababayan. Tiniyak natin na sa pamamagitan ng ating Caravan ay malilibot natin ang mga lugar na nangangailangan ng ating tulong at malaman ng ating mga kababayan ang mga serbisyo ng Red Cross bukod sa blood donation,” PRC Chairman and CEO Richard Gordon said.

A total of 107 Residents (97 adults, 10 children) of Valenzuela City availed of the Blood Typing Booth, First Aid and Basic Life Support Lecture and Demonstration, Health and Hygiene Promotion, and Volunteer Recruitment. Hot meals were also served to all participants.

Aside from health services, the PRC conducted a livelihood training program through its Material Recovery Facility, a project of the PRC and Netherlands Red Cross partnership completed in 2014, which trained the participants on how to do urban gardening and sell ornamental plants and other agricultural and recycled products. Beneficiaries of this program were able to increase the productivity of their livelihood assets. They even shared with the participants their livelihood operations and practices.

Since the start of the caravan in Valenzuela City in 2019, the PRC has reached 26 barangays with 2,139 participants facilitated by 276 volunteers and staff. 7 more barangays will be visited before the year ends.

The Philippine Red Cross this week started training more than 200 community-based trainers who will train Red Cross 143 volunteers across the country to respond to emergencies and disasters. Municipal coordinators for Red Cross 143 in Philippine Red Cross’ 104 chapters nationwide will attend the 4-day training in three batches from May to June this year. Using blended learning, the 4-day webinar workshop includes lectures, quizzes, group workshops, an exam, fieldwork, and a trainee’s evaluation. 

Red Cross 143 aims to promote a culture of self-help in communities by recruiting and preparing volunteers to respond to emergencies and disasters. The ultimate goal of the Red Cross 143 volunteer program is to capacitate communities to respond to emergencies and disasters on their own. It was first implemented during the Tropical Storm Ondoy (international name: Ketsana) Response in 2009.   

The trainers’ training is in line with the premier humanitarian organization’s mantra of “Volunteers + Logistics + Information Technology = A Red Cross that is Always First, Always Ready, Always There.” Training will prepare communities in the wake of PAGASA’s warning that the rainy season and La Niña will bring higher amounts of rainfall in some areas of the country this year. The Philippine Red Cross Chairman and CEO Richard J. Gordon also instructed current volunteers and staff to ensure that they are ready to be deployed, along with Philippine Red Cross’ response assets and logistics.

Those who are interested to be trained as Red Cross 143 volunteers may contact the Red Cross chapter nearest them.

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.

To continue its COVID-19 vaccination program and encourage more people to get vaccinated, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), through its Bakuna Bus, returned to Malabon City in Barangay Longos on May 20.

Over 100 patients, including senior citizens and immunocompromised, were able to receive their 1st booster shots. They were also advised to monitor their health conditions in preparation for their 2nd booster shots. The Department of Health issued an announcement on May 18 that senior citizens and the immunocompromised can join health workers in availing of the second booster shot.

“Nagbabalik ang Red Cross dito sa Malabon upang ipagpatuloy ang ating vaccination program. Ang ating Bakuna Bus ay handang sumuong sa mga liblib na lugar upang mas mahikayat natin ang ating mga kababayan na magpabakuna. Walang maiiwan sa ating laban kontra COVID-19,” PRC Chairman and CEO Richard Gordon said.

Providing a mobile COVID-19 vaccination program, the Bakuna Bus is strategically designed with facilities in compliance with the vaccine administration protocols, COVID-19 vaccines and other supplies, and space for volunteers and staff. With this interior, the PRC delivers a more efficient service to achieve herd immunity amid the pandemic, fulfilling its mandate to assist the government in its COVID-19 efforts.

To date, the PRC has administered 1,178,776 vaccination doses with 20 Bakuna Buses deployed in different areas in the Philippines.

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.

Red Cross volunteer firefighters responding to a fire in BASECO MANILA

On May 19, 2022, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Operations Center (OpCen) received a fire alarm call at 7:41 PM regarding an ongoing fire at Block 17, Old Baseco Compound, Port Area, Tondo, Manila. Immediately upon receipt of the call, OpCen dispatched two firetrucks and two ambulance units to help put out the fire and provide medical assistance to victims in need of such.

More than 300 families were affected by the fire that raged for more than 2 hours. As the fire was put under control, PRC then deployed its food trucks to provide hot meals prepared on the spot by PRC’s Welfare Services Team to those affected.

“Patuloy ang paghahatid ng pag-asa ng Red Cross sa mga labis na naapektuhan ng sunog sa Baseco Compound. Laging handang tumulong ang PRC sa pangangailangan, alinsunod sa aming layunin na maging laging una, laging handa, at laging nandyan para sa ating mga kababayan,” PRC Chairman and CEO Richard J. Gordon said.

Earlier, at 1:05 PM, PRC’s firetrucks and ambulance service teams were dispatched to a fire call at the GA Tower on EDSA, meters away from the PRC Headquarters, also on EDSA. This fire was put out in an hour.

The fire trucks, ambulance units, and food trucks are part of PRC’s rescue and relief team serving emergency needs all over the country.

Gordon said, “Laging handang tumulong ang Philippine Red Cross sa mga fire emergencies. Agad nating ipinadala and ating firetruck upang mabilis ang pag-rescue at mapuksa and apoy. Mag-iingat din tayo dahil marami and nangyayaring sunog sa ngayon kahit nag-umpisa na ang tag-ulan. Fire Safety begins at home – identify fire hazards and plan out evacuation measures in case of fire to uphold the safety of everyone.”

Philippine Red Cross

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.

Address: 37 EDSA corner Boni Avenue, Mandaluyong City 1550
Emergency Hotline: 143
Trunkline +63 2 8790 2300
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