Phil Red Cross, IFRC continue to give hope in Cebu with 71 solar-powered shelters worth P30M
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CEBU, PHILIPPINES -The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) turned over 71 full shelters with solar-powered panels amounting to P30 million for families that lost their homes due to Typhoon Odette (Rai) on 26 March 2024 in Barangay Poblacion, Alegria, Cebu.
“As I’ve said, PRC stands for hope and we are always hopeful that what we are doing is paving the path for these families towards healing and recovery. Red Cross is not in the business of giving dole outs – we are in the business of giving hope. What’s also special about the additional shelters is that these are all solar-powered,” said PRC Chairman and CEO Richard “Dick” Gordon.
The Full Shelter Assistance (FSA) project focused not only in the Queen City of the South but also in Bohol and Surigao del Norte—the provinces severely affected by Typhoon Odette in 2021. Last May 2023, the PRC already turned over 70 full shelters in Talibon, Bohol.
The project was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Society (IFRC) under the leadership of the IFRC Head of Delegation Sanjeev Kafley and IFRC Program Coordinator Gopal Mukherjee, and the Municipality of Alegria.
Odette was the strongest typhoon that struck the Philippines in 2021 where more than half of Cebu’s population of five million were affected by the disaster according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) stated that in the province’s capital, Cebu City, the total damages brought by Typhoon Odette to infrastructure, utilities, and agriculture in Cebu City reached P1.7 billion.
In Cebu alone, the PRC and its partners already built 8,741 houses; repaired 1,263 houses; provided livelihood assistance to 8,854 families; cash grants to 12,517 families; and food items to 21,789 households. These provisions are part of the P1 billion worth of developmental projects given by the PRC to vulnerable people in the province because of Typhoons Odette and Ursula, Naga City Landslide, and COVID-19 pandemic.
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PRC unveils newly renovated Bohol Chapter,vows to strengthen service delivery in Visayas
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Tagbilaran, Bohol – On March 26, Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and CEO Richard “Dick” Gordon and Secretary-General Dr. Gwen Pang, along with representatives from the local government unit of Bohol, celebrated the completion of renovations made to its Bohol Chapter, which sustained structural damage during the onslaught of Typhoon Odette in 2021.
The renovations, amounting to over P2.7 million, was made possible through the support of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Society (IFRC).
“I am proud that we are part of Bohol’s progress. When Odette happened, we were among the first in disaster responses and also the first to provide recovery operations not just in Bohol but in the rest of the country. We, at the PRC, are not mere spectators. We take actions, save lives, and leave a mark,” said Chairman Gordon.
The PRC is recognized to have provided the largest humanitarian aid in Bohol during Typhoon Odette and the 7.2 magnitude Bohol earthquake in 2013. Over PhP200 million worth of assistance was provided to families affected by these disasters alone, including provision of 420 full shelters and repair of 3,182 houses.
Chairman Gordon and Dr. Pang said that the renovation is one way to strengthen PRC’s service delivery in the region. “It is high time we give our countrymen in Bohol the best humanitarian service we can give,” said Dr. Pang.
“Each day, the PRC responds to various emergencies. It’s crucial for everyone to know the importance of empowering our communities, households, and schools with vital skills like first aid and disaster preparedness. We cannot save people if we are not there, but with a first aider in every home, immediate action becomes feasible.”
The PRC will recruit more volunteers, conduct first-aid training in communities, and facilitate blood donation drives in the forthcoming months in the Visayas region. At present, the PRC has a disaster resilience project in Bohol with focus on nature-based solutions.
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Philippine Red Cross strengthens commitment to Ricky Reyes’s Health and Beauty Caravan
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The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and PhilHair President and beauty guru Ricky Reyes strengthened their collaboration and formally launched this year’s Health and Beauty Caravan last March 20 at SM Megamall.
The Health and Beauty Caravan was first introduced on March 14 2022. From then, the PRC Health Caravan was able to support numerous beauty caravans in 67 communities, serving over 15,000 individuals, including mothers and the elderly.
“With the kindness of Chairman and CEO Richard “Dick” Gordon and Secretary General Dr. Gwen [and through the Health and Beauty Caravan], all the people [in] communities ay mararanasan ang alagang Red Cross [can experience the Red Cross care,” Mother Ricky Reyes said in an interview.
An initiative of Chairman Gordon, the Health Caravan is part of the PRC’s efforts to bring health services directly to communities. It offers free health consultation, health kit distribution, health and hygiene promotion, first aid training, blood typing, mother’s kit for pregnant women, routine immunization, and hot meal distribution to serve the most vulnerable.
At the event, Dr. Pang said the PRC is 100% committed to the initiative, adding, “We have recruited and trained over 500 new volunteers to accommodate the Health and Beauty Caravan. This year, we are targeting to reach 10,000 individuals.”
Representatives from Metro Manila Mayors’ Spouses Foundation Inc, Philippine Cancer Society, SM, and Mandaluyong Vice Mayor Menchie Abalos were also present in the event.
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PRC pays tribute to women’s contributions to decades of humanitarian work
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In the midst of a humanitarian crisis, women and children are disproportionately affected. Crises exacerbate their vulnerability, expose them to violence, and limit their access to education, livelihoods, and healthcare. It is against this background that the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) is working to intensify and strengthen its Protection, Gender, and Inclusion (PGI) actions to address violence, discrimination, and exclusion in the context of humanitarian aid.
Today, the PRC joins the world in celebrating Women’s Month on the theme “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress” of the United Nations to show appreciation to all the women contributors of the PRC who helped bridge the gender gap and provide inclusive and sustainable assistance for all.
Women make up a significant portion of the organization’s workforce. The PRC has women volunteers, staff, and leaders in its emergency and disaster response, ambulance teams, and health services. One of PRC’s leaders is its current Secretary-General, Dr. Gwen Pang, who is also behind the Women’s Action for Gender and Inclusion (WAGI), a community savings group that allows women of all ages and backgrounds, especially in marginalized areas, to incorporate a culture of saving in their communities, thereby empowering them and bringing economic security closer to them.
Also among the influential women of the PRC are the late Mrs. Amelia Gordon, Mrs. Kate Gordon, Rosa Rosal, PRC Vice Chairman Corazon Alma De Leon, PRC Counselor Atty. Lorna Patajo Kapunan, PRC Assistant Treasurer Leonida “Baby” Ortiz, and PRC Governor Jenni Munar.
“We invest in women. They are among those who step up and keep their families strong in the midst of disaster or armed conflict. We are committed to providing assistance and enhancing lifesaving skills for women, teens, elders, mothers, and the LGBTQ community,” said Dr. Pang.
PRC Chairman and CEO Richard “Dick” Gordon expressed his gratitude and appreciation to all the women of the PRC: “Behind every successful project or activity of the PRC stands a woman. The women of the PRC have dedicated themselves to ensuring that the voice of women is heard and represented in every dialogue and every step of planning, designing, implementing, and evaluating the processes of the PRC’s humanitarian agenda.”
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