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PRC prepares for the Feast of Black Nazarene Philippine Red Cross (PRC) staff and volunteers are now setting its operations plan for the Feast of Black Nazarene on Sunday, January 9, 2010 as this event poses risk in health and safety of devotees. With this, PRC will deploy staff, volunteers and ambulances to give immediate help in case of emergencies. Last year, during the Feast of the Black Nazarene, PRC mobilized more than 200 staff and volunteers from National Headquarters, Emergency Response Unit –Water Search and Rescue (ERU-WASAR), Manila, Las Piñas, Quezon City and Valenzuela Chapters together with 9 ambulances, 6 first aid stations and 3 rubber boats. At least 520 patients, who attended the feast, were catered by the Red Cross. This year, Red Cross will mobilize 250 staff and volunteers from National Headquarters, Manila, Valenzuela, Quezon, Rizal and Pasay Chapters to provide first aid. Likewise, nine (9) medical outposts with ambulance services and two (2) rubberboats will be strategically stationed in different areas to transport patient and conduct WASAR, if needed. Red Cross staff and volunteers will be stationed at Quirino Grandstand, Roxas Boulevard corner TM Kalaw, Round Table in Manila near Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM), P. Burgos corner Taft Avenue, Mc Arthur Bridge, Pasig River, Muelle Del Rio Street, Philtrust Bank along Lacson Plaza Sta. Cruz, Quiapo Church near 7-11 convenient store and at Bilibid Viejo in front of San Sebastian Church. The Feast of the Black Nazarene is one of the most-sought festivals in the Philippines as millions of devotees come from different parts of the country participate and touch the life-sized statue of Jesus Christ. For years, it has been a tradition to carry the Black Nazarene throughout the town by bare-footed men every 9th of January. PRC Secretary General Gwendolyn Pang said that the organization takes the lead in providing first aid services to the millions of devotees of the Black Nazarene. "It is our mandate to promote the safety and well-being of Filipinos specifically in events that require us to ensure that immediate help is given to those who might need it", Pang added. |