Philippine Red Cross

PHILIPPINE RED CROSS, SINGAPORE RED CROSS SEND HOME TWO OFWs FROM SINGAPORE

Written on August 30, 2024. Posted in News and Events.

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and the Singapore Red Cross (SRC) worked together to facilitate the repatriation of two Filipina domestic helpers from Singapore on August 28, 2024.

This joint undertaking of PRC and SRC is in line with the Last Mile Initiative program which aims to support distressed migrant workers who are struggling to return to their families in the Philippines due to their medical conditions. The project was able to send home six (6) OFWs since its inception in 2020.

“Now it’s clear to everyone that the Philippine Red Cross is not only for blood needs. In partnership with the SRC, we were able to reunite our sick kababayans from Singapore with their families. Kusang loob, malasakit, at kapwa-tao—these are the virtues we live by,” PRC Chairman and CEO Dick Gordon said.

The fifth and sixth OFWs previously sent home were aliases “Angelou” and “Gracia.” Both of them worked as domestic helpers in Singapore.

Based on the medical findings, “Angelou”, aged 45, was diagnosed with a right-sided stroke. She underwent a clot removal procedure last March 8.

Forty-nine-year-old “Gracia”, on the other hand, was diagnosed with a subarachnoid hemorrhage due to a ruptured aneurysm. She was hospitalized at the National University Hospital Neurosurgery from August 7 to 26.

The SRC staff and medical team accompanied the patients from Changi Airport back to the Philippines. Meanwhile, the PRC provided wheelchairs and ambulance services for both patients and assisted them to their respective provinces of Tuguegarao and General Santos. Aside from this, the PRC also stated that it will continue to monitor the health conditions of the patients and possibly provide livelihood programs for their welfare and recovery.

PRC Secretary-General Dr. Gwen Pang thanked PRC’s partners who contributed to the success of the repatriation efforts, saying, “On behalf of the Philippine Red Cross, I would like to echo our profound gratitude to the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the Department of Tourism (DOT), and to our local chapters in Cagayan and General Santos. Everything is indeed attainable if we work together.”

For questions and inquiries on the Last Mile Initiative program, contact the PRC Welfare Services at 09175974702 or visit its Facebook page.

Red Cross breaks ground for Cavite’s primary blood center in Imus

Written on August 2, 2024. Posted in News and Events.

IMUS, CAVITE — The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) has finally broken ground on the soon-to-rise Cavite Chapter headquarters office and the province’s first and primary blood center in Vermosa, Imus, Cavite on Aug. 2.

The three-storey office will house the Blood Center that has the capacity to host large blood drives, and conduct testing and processing of blood that will ensure steady supply of blood for Cavite’s hospitals and patients.

Since Imus is one of Cavite’s major cities, the local chapter aims to bring PRC’s blood services closer to the general public in the province, making it more accessible and responsive to the needs of communities. Specifically, the Chapter office will serve residents in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th and 8th Districts.

The Imus branch will also be the new main hub for the PRC Cavite Chapter’s operations, and will house a modern disaster communication center and storage for disaster response equipment; multipurpose facilities for trainings and workshops; and meeting spaces for support groups and community gatherings.

PRC Chairman and CEO Richard Gordon led the groundbreaking ceremony alongside Secretary General Dr. Gwen Pang, and PRC Cavite Chapter Chairman Dir. Gilbert C. Remulla. They were joined by Ayala Land Inc. Senior Vice President and Head of Estates Group Mr. Chris Maglanoc; Ayala Land Vice President and Senior Project Development Head of Ayala Land Estates Ms. Mayi Platero- Rodriguez, Okada Foundation Inc. President Mr. James Lorenzana; First Orient International Ventures Corp. Manager Mr. Ron Andre Lim; other officials from Ayala Land Inc., and Okada Foundation, as well as mayors and representatives of Cavite’s municipalities and cities.

“This is another step forward for the Red Cross as we extend our blood, health, and welfare services to more people in Cavite, and build a stronger Red Cross network in the country. This brings hope and confidence in the whole province of Cavite. Providing greater access to blood for Filipinos from all walks of life is one of our lifelong missions, and we will make sure that no request for blood is turned away, and all blood needs are met,” said Chairman Gordon.

“Having a central blood facility in Imus makes the Red Cross well-positioned to provide the blood needs of people in the province, and welcome blood donors from the region. This will also Improve the Red Cross’ capacity to deliver services to the people of Cavite and other nearby regions. Together, we are building a future where support and aid is readily available to people,” said Dr. Pang.

Early July this year, the PRC received a P60 million donation from the Okada Foundation to construct a Blood Center in Cavite. It will be built on an 859 sqm-property donated by Ayala Land Inc., located at the Vermosa complex in Imus.

Construction of the building and blood center will start in September this year, and are expected to be completed in September 2025.

“Ayala Land’s donation is a testament to our belief in the Philippine Red Cross mission to provide safe blood supply to the public, ensuring access to lifesaving blood transfusion, and other health services, as well as train 12,000 volunteers in the province,” said Ayala Land Senior Vice President Maglanoc.

Okada Foundation President Lorenzana added: “This is an opportunity for the Okada Foundation to give back to our people. Our foundation’s main goal is to make and implement projects for health and education. We believe in public and private partnerships to address the needs of our country.”

As of July this year, the Cavite Chapter has collected 8,609 and dispensed 6,728 blood units, serving 1,369 patients in the province.

Vermosa is a burgeoning mixed use Ayala Land Estate in Cavite, that is home to residential and commercial developments in the province. The complex offerings, which include retail establishments, residential dwellings, schools, sports facilities and open spaces make it an ideal place for the new Chapter headquarters, catering to locals and visitors alike.

New Red Cross Silang, Cavite branch

Aside from the groundbreaking ceremony, the PRC also inaugurated the Cavite Chapter’s new Silang branch that features its own blood collecting unit and blood station.

Gordon and Pang were joined by Cavite Chapter Chairman Remulla, Cavite 5th District Rep. Roy Loyola; and Municipality of Silang Mayor Edward Carranza in the inauguration; all of whom were guided on a tour of the facilities.

The new branch was funded and provided by the municipal government of Silang, while the renovations and fit-out construction of the office and facilities were supported by the PRC’s BloomberryProject. The project cost was around P1.8 million, funded partially by the Bloomberry Fund, and the PRC General Fund.

The Silang branch will occupy the left wing of the two-storeybuilding, while the right wing will be the location of the municipal government’s municipal dialysis center. Renovations began on Oct. 3, 2023, ending in June 30, 2024.

The areas covered by Silang Branch are the 5th District of Cavite (Carmona, GMA and Silang or CARSIGMA), including Tagaytay City.

Since the Silang Branch chapter began collecting blood on July 11, 2024, it has so far collected 160 blood units, dispensed 85, serving 33 patients.

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Ayala’s cancer hospital taps Red Cross as partner blood supplier

Written on July 26, 2024. Posted in News and Events.

TAGUIG CITY, PHILIPPINES – The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and Ayala Corp.’s Healthway Cancer Care Hospital (HCCH) on July 25 signed a memorandum of agreement to make blood supply affordable and accessible to cancer patients.

Under the agreement, PRC will deliver blood to HCCH weekly or as necessary during emergencies. Moreover, the hospital will support PRC in blood donation activities.

Signing the agreement were PRC Chairman and CEO Dick Gordon, PRC Secretary-General Dr. Gwen Pang, AC Health Chairman Fernando Zobel de Ayala, and AC Health Vice Chairman Cezar Consing.

“We’re still responding to those affected by the typhoon (Carina), but I came here because this partnership is very special to me. Ayala has been our partner for many years, especially during our fight against the pandemic. PRC and Healthway Cancer Care Hospital share the same mission and that is to alleviate the suffering of people,” said Gordon.

Pang added, “With PRC’s 108 blood service facilities, 32 blood centers, 76 blood collecting stations, and 15 apheresis centers, the partnership will be well supported. This is a crucial step in our fight against cancer. I’m confident that this partnership will have a positive impact on cancer care and I hope this will inspire more collaborations and partnerships for better health care for Filipinos.”

Consing said, “When they mentioned this partnership to me, I remember when two people close to me were in dire need of blood during COVID. In desperation, I called Chairman Gordon and told him our blood needs. Within two hours, blood was delivered. Hence, I think of no better partner than the PRC.”

De Ayala pointed out that “Ayala Corporation has always believed in the power of collaboration to drive positive change. PRC’s collaborative spirit and unwavering commitment have been instrumental in our journey as the first comprehensive cancer care hospital in the Philippines.”

As one of the country’s major blood suppliers, PRC collected a total of 538,666 units of blood in 2023. This year, PRC’s target is to supply 70 percent of the country’s demand for blood.

Since April, PRC has been partnering with various hospitals, starting with Cardinal Santos and St. Luke’s, to ensure adequate blood supply for vulnerable patients.

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PRC, Barilla, Marriott feed children on World Pasta Day

Written on November 22, 2023. Posted in News and Events.

PASAY CITY, METRO MANILA – Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and CEO Richard “Dick” Gordon expressed gratitude to Italian food company Barilla and Marriott Hotel Manila for celebrating the World Pasta Day by donating 500 bowls of nutritious pasta and 500 banana loaves to students, some of whom are Red Cross Youth, at Villamor Air Base Elementary School last October 25, 2023.

“We’ve partnered with hotels, restaurants, bakeries, and food storage facilities to provide food for the most vulnerable, whether during times of disaster or in non-disaster situations. I am grateful to all our partners for helping PRC support our most vulnerable communities,” Gordon said.

Executive Chef Meik Brammer of Marriott said that donating food to the underprivileged through the PRC is among the hotel giant’s means of addressing food wastage. Marriott Hotel is a food donor of the PRC for over 12 years, serving freshly-cooked food to over 20,000 beneficiaries.

Food donations significantly contributed to addressing two of PRC’s key advocacies: food insecurity and child malnutrition, which Gordon reiterated during his discussion at the International Society for Southeast Asian Agricultural Sciences (ISSAAS) conference on November 8 in Manila.

Gordon, during his first term as a senator in 2009, authored the Republic Act No. 9803 (RA9803) or the Food Donation Act of 2009, which aims to address the country’s growing hunger problem and bring dignity back to the most vulnerable simultaneously. Under this law, donors are encouraged to donate food for charitable purposes and to reduce food wastage. Chairman Gordon explained that the donors give untouched food from buffet tables, not leftover food.

PRC’s food coordinator, Ms. Micot Juico, and PRC-Pasay City Chapter staff, Ms. Shara Mae Arceo, facilitated the food donation activity.

Capiz’s Triumph: Philippine Red Cross showcases resilience, recovery in Super Typhoon Haiyan Commemoration

Written on November 22, 2023. Posted in Uncategorized.

As the country commemorates the historic Super Typhoon Haiyan this November, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) highlights the noteworthy accomplishments of its response, recovery, and resilience programs in the affected areas. One of the worst-hit provinces was Capiz. The Philippine Red Cross shared that overall, it provided PhP448.6 million in recovery interventions in the province.

“We are globally acknowledged as one of the leading Red Cross societies. In the aftermath of the Haiyan disaster, we demonstrated our capacity to gather support from numerous Red Cross and Red Crescent (RCRC) societies globally and effectively distribute aid to various provinces. The Haiyan incident underscored the reputation of Red Cross as a dependable organization, solidifying its position as the preferred partner,” said Richard “Dick” Gordon, Chairman and CEO of the PRC.

Aside from the PRC, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the German Red Cross, the Hong Kong Red Cross, the Singapore Red Cross, and the Swiss Red Cross implemented the humanitarian assistance program in Capiz.

The RCRC Movement built 7,233 homes for displaced people, provided livelihood training and cash assistance to 6,945 households, built WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) facilities in 24 schools, reconstructed or constructed 12 health facilities, and built 25 classrooms.

Dr. Gwen Pang, Secretary-General of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), said that the PRC assumed control by allocating various national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to the impacted provinces and cities, implementing a coordinated intervention program.

Super Typhoon Haiyan affected over 16 million people in more than 600 municipalities and cities. It displaced more than 800,000 families. The PRC mounted a P4.9 billion recovery program, benefiting over 390,000 families across 10 provinces and cities.

Philippine Red Cross sent hot meals, aid to people affected by shearline, LPA

Written on November 21, 2023. Posted in News and Events.

MANDALUYONG, METRO MANILA – Volunteers and staff of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) continue to aid families affected by the low pressure area (LPA) and the shearline that brought incessant rains over the weekend in the eastern sections of Visayas and Luzon.

The PRC – Northern Samar Chapter served hot meals to 153 individuals and set up a welfare desk and first aid station at the Polangi Evacuation Center to provide physical and mental medical attention to evacuees. In Quezon Lucena, the PRC’s first aid station monitored the blood pressure of 38 evacuees, while the PRC’s welfare desk provided psychological first aid (PFA) and facilitated child-friendly spaces for over 100 individuals.

Provision of food, water, PFA, and basic medical care constitute the standard response and rescue efforts of the PRC to reinstate evacuees’ access to essential necessities amid disruptions.

According to PRC Chairman and CEO Dick Gordon, terrains and other areas in the affected regions are susceptible to landslides and mudslides due to the saturated soil caused by heavy rainfall. “Our payloaders are positioned for clearing operations, ensuring continuous assistance to geographically isolated areas,” he added.

As of writing, there are 12 evacuation centers in Northern Samar, Western Samar, and Masbate housing 1,460 individuals.

PH Red Cross, Partners Address Youth Unemployment; Empower Vulnerable Groups Through Skill Development Initiatives

Written on November 21, 2023. Posted in Features, News and Events.

In September 2023, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that the employment rate among the youth, aged 15 to 24 years old, was 86.9%.

With that, 13.1% of Filipino youth were unemployed. Youth unemployment is higher than overall unemployment, which is 4.5%.

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC), in partnership with TESDA, technical-vocational schools, and the Spanish Red Cross, is making strides in helping the youth and other vulnerable groups gain skills for employment or self-employment. The PRC project covers the tuition fees for the beneficiaries and also provides them with meals and transportation allowances.

“We are committed to assisting the youth and other vulnerable groups among our kababayans in finding employment or engaging in self-employment,” said PRC Chairman and CEO Richard “Dick” Gordon.

On 13 November 2023, 54 youth and members of other vulnerable groups from Manila, Caloocan, and Pasay received their certificates from TESDA for completing courses such as baking, housekeeping, and caregiving. The graduation ceremony was held at Manila Atelier of Food Arts and Hospitality, Inc. in UN Avenue, Ermita Manila.

“The primary goal of PRC’s Employment Project is to enhance the connectedness of urban poor communities to better access economic opportunities,” explained the PRC Secretary-General, Dr. Gwen Pang.

PRC sends EMS personnel to aid people affected by 6.8 earthquake that hit Sarangani, Davao Occidental

Written on November 17, 2023. Posted in News and Events.

Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and CEO Dick Gordon convened the PRC team today to plan the humanitarian organization’s response to communities affected by the 6.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Sarangani, Davao Occidental and neighboring provinces at 4:14 pm today.

As of writing, the PRC’s emergency medical services (EMS) personnel, Red Cross 143 volunteers, and assets are deployed to provide EMS to affected students from Holy Trinity Junior High and Golden State College, and other affected communities.

“PRC volunteers and staff are on the ground assessing the needs of communities. We are mobilizing our volunteers in the affected barangays to ensure that reports are transmitted to our Operations Center immediately. In this way, we can immediately provide humanitarian assistance to those affected,” said Chairman Gordon.

According to reports from the PRC Davao Del Sur Chapter, the earthquake caused power outages in Digos City. Alberto Olarte Sr. National High School in Sarangani and two malls in Koronadal and General Santos City suffered from collapsed ceilings and broken glasses. A construction crane in Davao City with a block of cement also collapsed.

According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, the earthquake’s depth of focus was 10 kilometers. PRC Davao del Sur Chapter reported that in Digos City, strong shaking lasted for 10 seconds.

Photo: Damages in Alberto Olarte Sr. National High School in Mabila, Sarangani, Davao Occidental (photo from Red Cross 143 volunteer Shyluck Regino)

PRC’s climate actions in achieving peace, sustainability highlighted at ICW assembly

Written on November 16, 2023. Posted in Uncategorized.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Secretary-General, Dr. Gwen Pang discussed the organization’s climate actions and humanitarian responses to disasters aggravated by climate change during the International Women Empowerment Assembly: Peace and Sustainable Development of the International Council of Women on November 6.

Dr. Pang began her discourse by referring to climate change as a threat multiplier that can exacerbate existing conflicts and potentially ignite new ones. “By addressing climate change, we are actively contributing in promoting peace and sustainability,” she said.

The discourse focused on the ways the PRC addresses both the effects and root causes of climate change.

“We incorporate climate change in our training, capacity-building programs, and educational materials to raise awareness. We invest in nature-based solutions, and intensify our efforts in waste management and circular economy,” she said.

The PRC also has climate-resilient development practices, such as Early Warning and Early Action Protocols, and community-based disaster risk reduction and disaster preparedness to help Filipino communities affected by natural hazards intensified by climate change.

“Numerous climate change-induced hazards traverse the Philippines in a year. Before communities can recover, another disaster will come and exacerbate their situation. Our early warning and action systems help Filipinos strengthen their houses, evacuate livestocks, relocate small businesses, and harvest their crops days early prior to impact of hazards,” Dr. Pang highlighted.

The Secretary-General concluded her discussion by encouraging all women leaders at the aforementioned conference to devise action points and integrate climate change in local and national policies.

This year, Dr. Pang represented the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies at the UN High-Level Meeting of the Midterm Review for the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) in New York. The PRC also signed an agreement with the Climate Change Commission to intensify the country’s climate change adaptation and mitigation programs.

Philippine Red Cross assists stranded passengers of a tilted Cebu-bound ship

Written on November 15, 2023. Posted in News and Events, Uncategorized.

After receiving reports from the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Operations Center, PRC Cagayan de Oro Chapter immediately responded to stranded passengers of a Cebu-bound ship that tilted due to strong winds and heavy waves shortly after leaving the port of CDO on November 12. The vessel was operated by Cokaliong Shipping Lines.

Soon after all the passengers safely disembarked from the ship at the port of CDO, the PRC’s Welfare Services Team arrived. Volunteers from PRC CDO Chapter distributed hot meals (arroz caldo) to 125 passengers and food packs to 129 passengers who were shaken by the incident. Seven (7) passengers received medical attention, one of whom had a sprained ankle, and two (2) passengers received psychological first aid from PRC’s first aid and welfare stations.

PRC Chairman Dick Gordon directed the deployment of PRC’s ambulance team in Macabalan Port to provide pre-hospital treatment to passengers who may need it.

PRC’s OpCen also coordinated with the Philippine Coast Guard. Stranded passengers are currently housed in the PPA passenger amenity building, awaiting instructions regarding the vessel’s departure or clearance.

On October 7, the PRC dispatched two ambulance units to assist in the disembarkation of passengers from a cargo vessel still operated by Cokaliong Shipping Lines. The vessel was en route to Samar when a chemical leak on board took place.

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