Philippine Red Cross

PRC holds medical outreach for 600 in Angono, Rizal

Written on August 8, 2023. Posted in Features, News and Events. Leave a Comment

ANGONO, RIZAL — The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and its partners held a medical mission in this town last August 5, benefitting almost 600 residents from various barangays.

The PRC spearheaded “Health Caravan: A Medical Outreach” in partnership with the Local Government Unit of Rizal, the Rotary Club through Rotary Club District 3830 Governor Dr. Mildred Vitangcol, and the Latter-Day Saints Charities.

Senior citizens, mothers, children, and persons with disabilities were the priorities of the initiative. They availed themselves of the following services: medical consultation; medicines; health lectures; hygiene kits; vision, hearing, mobility, and cancer screening; laboratory tests; Pneumonia vaccination; and dental services.

PRC Chairman and CEO Richard J. Gordon said that one of the objectives of the PRC is to deliver healthcare services to communities, particularly in times of disasters and emergencies.

Secretary-General Dr. Gwen Pang, who personally attended the activity, said that eyeglasses and wheelchairs would soon be distributed to the beneficiaries. She explained that the eyeglasses and wheelchairs would be customized to meet each individual’s specific needs. She added that a comfortable wheelchair and a properly-fitting pair of prescription glasses can relatively improve the quality of life of a person with mobility and vision limitations.

The Health Caravan of PRC alone has provided free services to over 28, 000 persons across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao during the first five months of 2023.

Angono Mayor Jeri Mae Calderon lauded the initiative and expressed gratitude to PRC and its partner organizations.

PRC, CCC join forces to intensify country’s climate change adaptation and mitigation programs

Written on July 28, 2023. Posted in Features, News and Events. Leave a Comment

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and the Climate Change Commission today signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to advance public awareness, advocacy campaigns, and programs on climate change adaptation and mitigation at the local level.

PRC Chairman and CEO Dick Gordon and Secretary-General Dr. Gwen Pang signed the six-year agreement with CCC Vice Chair and Executive Director, Secretary Robert E.A. Borje, and Commissioner, Attorney Rachel Anne Herrera.

The two organizations agreed to collaborate on enhancing the knowledge and projects of communities and local government units on climate change concerns. They are also looking to integrate their tools for current and future policies. PRC pledged its support for the forestation activities of CCC’s Carbon-Zero Challenge, an initiative aimed at reducing the carbon emissions from a product or service.

Chairman Gordon commended the CCC for its commitment to combat climate change. He said: “Through our millions of RC143 volunteers in thousands of communities, we can help implement climate action projects and policies effectively at the community level. One of our goals on why we keep pushing to have a group of trained volunteers in each community is to bring our mission closer to every Filipino.”

Dr. Pang, in her previous discussions on climate change adaptation, has been reiterating the importance of investing in nature-based solutions and sustainable use of natural resources to combat climate change. “We have to work with nature to mitigate the impact of climate change,” she said.

The PRC has been actively campaigning and promoting climate action through its Health Services, Safety Services, Welfare Services, WASH, Disaster Risk Reduction, Anticipatory Action activities, and projects such as educating the youth, equipping PRC chapters with climate change knowledge, community planning, and projects on nature-based solutions.

Philippine Red Cross Deploys Comprehensive Operations for President BBM’s 2nd State of the Nation Address

Written on July 25, 2023. Posted in News and Events. Leave a Comment

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) stands ready to provide essential support and assistance during the 2nd State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Bongbong Marcos at the Batasang Pambansa, Quezon City, on July 24, 2023. As of 5 AM today, all PRC teams are on standby, equipped and prepared to address any potential emergencies that may arise during this significant event.

PRC’s summary of deployment for the SONA is as follows:

Ambulances: 6
First Aid Stations: 6
Welfare Desks: 6
Manpower: 75

The strategically positioned teams will be deployed across several key areas, ensuring comprehensive coverage and rapid response capabilities. The areas of deployment include:

Camp Karingal
Command Post
Batasan Road South Gate
Batasan Road North Gate
Quezon Memorial Circle
Commission on Human Rights, Commonwealth Ave
Batoda terminal, Commonwealth Ave
Batasan-San Mateo Road

PRC is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of the public, guests, and officials attending the SONA. The presence of PRC’s well-trained personnel and fully equipped ambulances will provide critical emergency medical services should any situation demand immediate attention.

PRC Chairman and CEO Dick Gordon stated, “Our dedicated teams have undergone rigorous training to handle various emergency situations effectively. We will always be ready to serve and extend our humanitarian aid wherever it is needed.

PRC encourages everyone attending the SONA to stay vigilant and cooperate with the authorities and the PRC personnel. If any medical assistance is required, the public is urged to approach the nearest PRC team or First Aid Station.
As a humanitarian organization, the Philippine Red Cross has always been at the forefront of disaster response, emergency assistance, and medical services.

Philippine Red Cross trains over 7,000 to mark National CPR Day; to sign MOA with KBP

Written on July 20, 2023. Posted in News and Events. Leave a Comment

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) marked National CPR Day last Monday by training over 7,000 people on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) through its 102 chapters across the country.

Equipping Filipinos with crucial life-saving skills, PRC conducted 63 comprehensive training sessions to equip communities with the knowledge and skills required to respond effectively to emergencies.

PRC Chairman and CEO Dick Gordon commended the exceptional efforts of volunteers and staff for the National CPR Day. “It is our goal here at the PRC to have one first aider in every home. Equipping ourselves and our family members with first aid and CPR skills multiplies the chances of survival in emergency situations, creating a nation that is more resilient and better prepared to handle crises,” said Gordon.

Aside from the 7,000 people trained with CPR last July 17, PRC yesterday conducted a first aid and CPR demonstration for the members of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) which supports Chairman Gordon’s vision of building a prepared nation.

Gordon sent Jaylord Abrigado, an officer of PRC’s Safety Services to present to the broadcasting community after KBP Chairman Herman Z. Basbaño requested for hands-on instruction in essential CPR techniques and effective first aid responses to various emergencies.

“Our mission at PRC revolves around saving lives. We are glad to equip KBP members with the skills and knowledge necessary to respond effectively in emergencies. This collaboration marks the beginning of an important alliance, aimed at strengthening community resilience and fostering a culture of preparedness,” said Gordon.

“We are deeply grateful to the Philippine Red Cross for sharing their expertise with us. This training not only enhances the safety awareness of our broadcasting professionals but also empowers them to play a significant role in saving lives in times of crisis,” expressed KBP Chairman Herman Basbaño.

PRC and KBP are exploring a potential partnership through a memorandum of agreement ( MOA ) .

From January to July 2023, the PRC has trained over 84,000 first aiders across the country.

PH Red Cross, JCI Manila, and GMA Kapuso Foundation renew tripartite agreement for an adequate blood supply in the country

Written on June 16, 2023. Posted in Features, News and Events. Leave a Comment

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC), Junior Chamber International (JCI) Manila, and GMA Kapuso Foundation renewed their tripartite agreement on World Blood Donor Day, 14 June 2023, for an adequate blood supply in the country. The Memorandum of Agreement outlines the roles of the three organizations in reaching their common goal of ensuring an adequate and sustainable supply of safe and quality blood and blood products for the most vulnerable. The three advocates of voluntary blood donation started their collaboration in 2018.

Highlighting the importance of donating blood as an act of service to a fellow human, or a fellow Filipino, PRC Chairman and CEO Richard J. Gordon said: “We try to inculcate in the Filipino that he is not there to be served. He is there to serve others.”

JCI Manila President Mr. Eric Ke, GMA Kapuso Foundation Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Mr. Rikki Escudero-Catibog, PRC Chairman and CEO Richard J. Gordon, and PRC Secretary General Gwendolyn Pang signed the agreement.

According to PRC Secretary General Gwendolyn Pang, under the agreement, the JCI will help the PRC organize mass blood donation drives; GMA Kapuso Foundation will promote the campaign, while the PRC will provide the human resources and logistics.

GMA Kapuso Foundation has been a longtime partner of the PRC in blood donation drives. The JCI Manila has organized around 30 blood donation drives across the country in collaboration with PRC chapters nationwide, partner hospitals, and local government units.

Philippine Red Cross invites individuals to complete COVID-19 Booster Shots

Written on June 16, 2023. Posted in News and Events. Leave a Comment

Mandaluyong City, Philippines – The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) urges Filipinos and other residents needing booster shots to complete the recommended doses to ensure optimal protection against COVID-19.

PRC Chairman and CEO Richard J. Gordon said it is crucial that everyone completes the vaccination regimen. “Completing your COVID-19 booster shots strengthens one’s immune system against the virus – providing protection to individuals and safeguarding the health of our communities.”

Individuals who have yet to receive their booster shots can come to the PRC Logistics and Multipurpose Center (PLMC) located at the PRC Tower in Mandaluyong City.

The PLMC provides a safe and conducive environment for vaccination, adhering to strict health and safety protocols in ensuring the well-being of individuals receiving the booster shots. The facility is staffed by trained healthcare professionals who will guide and assist individuals throughout the vaccination process.

PRC Secretary-General, Dr. Gwendolyn T. Pang underscored the significance of vaccination in building immunity.”We encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity and protect themselves and their loved ones,” she said.

PRC provides accessible and reliable booster shots in support of the government’s national vaccination campaign.

For more information and updates, visit the official website of the Philippine Red Cross or contact the Red Cross 143 hotline.

Together, let us prioritize health and well-being by completing COVID-19 booster shots.

PH Red Cross Provides Lifesaving Blood Products to Over 500 Patients Daily from January to May

Written on June 13, 2023. Posted in News and Events. Leave a Comment

Ahead of the World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) celebration on 14 June 2023 and the National Blood Donor Month (NBDM) in July, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) reported that it served 79,634 patients needing blood products from January 1 to May 31, 2023, or over 500 per day on average. PRC’s 107 blood service facilities nationwide dispensed 143,086 blood units for these patients during the period.

According to PRC Chairman and CEO Richard J. Gordon, PRC’s blood services are “exceedingly significant” in meeting the needs of patients across the country. He also emphasized the need for blood products during disasters and emergencies. “PRC is one of the leading suppliers of blood products in the country. Our objective is to contribute to the country’s goal of having an adequate blood supply, which is crucial to any country’s health care system,” said Gordon.

This year’s WBDD and NBDM celebrations share the theme “Give blood, give plasma, share life, share often.”

“PRC has always been steadfast in its commitment to contribute to life-saving through blood service. Our goal is to promote adequate, safe, and quality blood supply. On behalf of the PRC, I thank our donors who share our vision,” said Dr. Gwendolyn Pang, secretary general of the PRC.

Please email the PRC National Blood Services at [email protected] or call 143 or (02) 8790-2300 for inquiries.

PRC’s Gordon launches “Mayon Volcano 2023 Operation”

Written on June 9, 2023. Posted in News and Events. Leave a Comment

MANDALUYONG City– Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman Richard J. Gordon yesterday directed the humanitarian organization to immediately send assistance to some 10,000 residents living within six kilometers of the permanent danger zones of Mayon Volcano in Albay as the organization launched a wide-scale operation.

The operation, considered one of the largest conducted by PRC, showed the organization’s preparedness and immediate response, as it sent a humanitarian caravan at the onset of the Mayon Volcano situation.

Gordon, who is at the helm of PRC since 2005 and a Red Cross volunteer for 54 years, convened his team on Thursday and immediately dispatched a humanitarian caravan after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) raised the alert for Mayon Volcano to level 3, which signifies an “increased tendency towards a hazardous eruption”.

PRC is known in the country and even overseas as the foremost humanitarian Philippine organization that is able to respond first in countless rescue and other operations as Gordon led many missions over the years.

Upon Gordon’s instruction, PRC sent four water tankers with five water bladders, two water filtration units, and tap stands; four food trucks; two Travis multipurpose vans with health supplies, including goggles; three trucks with 2, 500 sleeping kits and hygiene kits; and a 6×6 truck carrying 2, 500 jerry cans from PRC’s Metro Manila warehouse, Subic warehouse, and PRC Batangas Chapter to augment other PRC assets already prepositioned in Albay. The water tankers will ensure the provision of drinking water at the evacuation centers as sulfur dioxide and other chemicals from volcanic ashes may pollute water sources.

“We are always ready and prepared to help. We have tapped our RC143 volunteers in Albay to extend the needed support and our staff are also on the ground,” Gordon said.

He added that preparations of this kind are not unusual for PRC. “We are always ready for any situation. It is better to be over prepared in times of crisis so we are sending the humanitarian caravan as early as now to ensure that logistics are prepositioned should the situation in Albay turn worse,” the PRC Chairman/CEO said, noting that PRC is guided by the principles of 4Ps: “Predict, Plan, Prepare, Practice” in all its operations.

PRC Secretary-General, Dr. Gwendolyn T. Pang organized the PRC teams to respond at the soonest time to help the residents in Albay.

“Our team is prepared and we are already moving as early as now to ensure that no one will be displaced. Our volunteers and staff in Albay and Batangas stand ready to assist,” Dr. Pang said.

Dr. Pang urged communities both in Albay and in Batangas, where Taal Volcano is currently showing signs of increased unrest, to remain alert and observant, as she underscored the importance of always being prepared to alleviate the suffering of people in the affected areas.

PRC Albay Chapter already dispatched its health caravan with trained medical personnel and set up first aid stations, and welfare desks with nebulizers and blood pressure monitors in evacuation centers.

PH Red Cross Distributes 20,496 Loaves of Bread to Disaster-Prone Communities and Fire-Affected Families in NCR from January to May

Written on June 7, 2023. Posted in News and Events. Leave a Comment

The Philippine Red Cross provided 20,496 loaves of bread to support disaster-prone communities and fire-affected families in the National Capital Region from January to May 2023. This is in partnership with Gardenia Bakeries Philippines Inc. The loaves of bread have served as a vital source of nutrition for families struggling with the aftermath of disasters.

PRC Chairman Richard J. Gordon expressed his gratitude for the partnership, stating, “Through our collaboration with Gardenia Bakeries, we are able to extend much-needed assistance to disaster-stricken communities. The provision of bread not only addresses immediate hunger but also brings hope and comfort to those affected.”

Freshly baked loaves of bread, along with other food items, are distributed by the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) to communities in need. Through the Food Donation Act of 2009, a law championed by PRC Chairman Gordon during his tenure as a senator, hotels, restaurants, and other organizations in the food industry also donate surplus food to the PRC, ensuring that it reaches those who need it most.

PRC Secretary General Dr. Gwen T. Pang emphasized the importance of community support, stating, “The distribution of these food items demonstrates our commitment to serving the most vulnerable in society. We are thankful for the partnership with Gardenia, as it enables us to reach more individuals in need and provide them with essential sustenance.”

PH Red Cross distributes personal hygiene products to elderly patients of the National Center for Mental Health

Written on June 1, 2023. Posted in News and Events. Leave a Comment

Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Secretary General Dr. Gwen Pang and PRC Board of Governors Vice Chairperson Corazon Alma De Leon led the distribution of 150 hygiene kits to the elderly inpatients of the Female Aged Care and Wellness Unit of the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) on 30 May.

Dr. Pang, a nurse by profession, explained that a combination of internal factors, such as impairment and disabilities, and external factors, including physical environment, inequalities, discrimination, and stigma create obstacles for individuals to efficiently access and engage in hygienic practices.

“The PRC acknowledges that individuals with specific needs face the detrimental effects of social stigma, which leads to lesser or even no participation and engagement on their part. Through our hygiene promotion and provision of hygiene kits, we hope they feel loved and not forgotten,” she added.

PRC Chairman and CEO Richard J. Gordon has previously initiated programs for the NCMH, consistently highlighting the Red Cross’ commitment to ensuring that every individual has access to basic human needs. “The PRC develops initiatives to accommodate individuals with specific needs because they are important to us. We ensure their involvement in every phase and recognize that they are still part of our society. Never forgotten and always to be treated with dignity,” he stated.

The kit includes a bar soap, soap dish, hand towel, shampoo, toothbrush, and toothpaste. Dr. Cristina Palma, one of the medical officers overseeing the unit, said the provision of hygiene kits is essential to assist patients in maintaining cleanliness, adding that the arrival of their hygiene items is sometimes delayed or resources available at times may not be sufficient to accommodate all patients.

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