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 INTRAMUROS, MANILA—Strengthening its commitment to raising environmental awareness, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) hosted a conference on recycling and circular economy with the theme “From Waste to Solutions: Building Partnerships for Sustainable Alternatives to Single-use Plastics” held at Intramuros, Manila on March 25. 

The program started with panel discussions on optimizing the waste-to-resource chain and unlocking business opportunities in the circular economy. It was followed by an exhibition of upcycled and eco-friendly products, and a roundtable discussion. Local government units in Metro Manila, non-governmental organizations, and recycling companies participated. 

“The Circular Economy project has already achieved remarkable results. We have organized 15 associations, primarily in Manila and Navotas. These associations have become more than just groups of waste workers — they are now empowered communities, equipped with the tools and knowledge to operate more effectively and improve their livelihoods. This initiative proves that when we invest in people, we create ripples of change that extend far beyond the individual,” PRC Secretary-General Dr. Gwen Pang remarked. 

“We are here not just to talk but to act — to find solutions, foster collaboration, and create long-term impacts for our communities and our environment,” she added. 

This initiative is part of the project titled “Promotion of a Green and Circular Economy Through Civil Society Engagement and Good Governance in Highly Urbanized Coastal Cities in the Philippines”, a three-year developmental project of the PRC, Spanish Red Cross, European Union, and Eibarko Udala that focuses in areas of Manila, Navotas, and Zamboanga City. 

It aims to educate local government units and private companies on the importance of solid waste management and provide livelihood opportunities to citizens through recycling, upcycling, and the creation of community savings groups. 

NAVOTAS CITY,  PHILIPPINES – The Philippine Red Cross (PRC), Spanish Red Cross (SRC), and the local government of Navotas inked a memorandum of agreement on the project entitled: “Promotion of Green and Circular Economy Through Civil Society Engagement and Good Governance in Highly Urbanized Coastal Cities in the Philippines” on August 30, 2024. 

According to the agreement, the Navotas LGU will be a key partner of PRC and SRC for the implementation of the project in its four barangays: NBBS Kaunlaran, NBBS Dagat-dagatan, NBBS Proper, and North Bay Boulevard North. 

Funded by the European Union and Eibarko Udala, the project which was launched in December 2022 aims to reduce waste and provide livelihood by promoting sustainable development and a circular economy in three coastal cities in the country: Zamboanga City (six barangays), Manila City (one barangay), and Navotas City (four barangays). The project will expand to cover more areas as it targets 200,000 beneficiaries by 2025. 

Moreover, the project emphasizes reducing the use of single-use plastics, reusing materials, and fostering behavioral change to create a system where nothing ends up in landfills. By promoting a circular economy, it seeks to build stronger, more resilient communities while addressing the environmental challenges of waste and pollution. 

The project has two components: first, enhancing Solid Waste Management (SWM) that can be achieved by providing LGUs and citizens, especially garbage collectors the proper technical training on SWM. Secondly, providing livelihood which can be attained through organizing community savings groups (CSGs) which not only support their financial needs but also promote social cohesion. 

“We aim to achieve a cleaner, more sustainable, and progressive Navotas City. This program can also be a model program that can be replicated by other cities in the country. We also aim to be effective in waste management, providing livelihood, and promoting a circular economy. Through this project, we are not only protecting the environment and promoting sustainability, we also build stronger and more resilient communities for generations to come,” said PRC Secretary-General Dr. Gwen Pang. 

Spanish Red Cross Head of Delegation Maria Grazia Pressacco shared that “Working on this 

project is very challenging because It’s something new. But we believe that this project is something really important for humanity because we are facing the challenges of climate change every day.” 

“Today is a significant milestone to join hands with PRC and SRC to promote this project. Navotas City is one of the biggest fishports so the main industry here is fishing. It’s very important that we have clean water so we have more fish to catch. Our city is also the only city that hosts a landfill in Metro Manila. We allow others to dump there. Although our city earns from that, we’ve decided to close it next year. This project happened at the most opportune time, as we face the challenge of reducing waste,” Navotas City Mayor Hon. John Reynald Tiangco added. 

As of August 30, the project was able to conduct research studies, workshops, training, organize CSGs, community engagement activities, and volunteer recruitment, among others. 

Signatories of the MOA were PRC Secretary-General Dr. Gwen Pang, Navotas City Mayor Hon. John Reynald Tiangco, Spanish Red Cross Head of Delegation Maria Grazia Pressacco, and Acting City Environment and Natural Resources Officer EnP. Yzabela Bernardina Nazal-Habunal. 

Photo Hilongos TY Odette2 08-25-22

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.

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) heads to the Municipality of Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Maguindanao to distribute PHP 3,500 Multipurpose Cash Grant (MPCG) to 699 families, as part of the Peace and Development in BARMM project, on December 13, 2021.

PRC partners with the Spanish Red Cross, German Red Cross and is funded by the European Union which aims to reduce the impact of COVID-19 and address the immediate needs to foster the public healthcare system and socio-economic development of Bangsamoro Autonomous Religion in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The MPCG event was attended virtually by PRC Chairman and CEO Sen. Dick Gordon and physically by Midtimbang, DAM Mayor Maryjoy Estephanie Uy, Vice-Mayor Datu Jomar U. Midtimbang, PRC Cotabato City – Maguindanao Chapter Chairwoman Ms. Bai Fatima Sinsuat, Chapter Administrator Rose Gayong, and executives from the local government unit and PRC local chapter.

Recently, PRC provided 3,500 cash assistance to 1,500 families, 10,000 livelihood assistance to 800 families, and skills training for youth to 100 individuals in Lanao Del Sur. Through the leadership of Sen. Gordon, PRC was able to provide PHP 10,000 livelihood assistance to 2,307 families during the Marawi Armed Conflict in 2018, provided emergency shelters to 3,792 families in the municipality of Saguiaran, Balo-i, Wawalayan Calocan, Guimba, and Bubong, Marawi.

“Tuloy tuloy ang ating pagtulong sa mga Muslim brothers sa Muslim Mindanao. Layunin natin ay maabot ang mga malalayong lugar upang matulungan ang mga most vulnerable groups. Kamakailan lang ay binuksan natin ang Cotabato Molecular laboratory, upang mapalakas ang ating laban kontra COVID-19,” Sen. Gordon said.

PRC will continue to be of service to serve the most vulnerable, truly abiding by its mantra to be always first, always ready, and always there.

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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