Philippine Red Cross: Always first, ready

and there
FROM THE STANDS By Domini M. Torrevillas (The Philippine Star) | Updated January 29, 2015 - 12:00am

I knew very little about the work of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) until I asked to meet its chair Richard
Gordon at the organizations headquarters at the Port Area, Manila. I thought all it did was ask people to
volunteer blood, extract it, and ready it for use by patients. Now I know better.
3 PRCs services did involve only providing blood and in disaster-related activities in the past. Now it focuses
on a holistic approach to uplifting the condition of the most vulnerable. Offering only short-term palliatives
before, it now offers a wider area of humanitarian services ranging from preventive medicine, therapeutic
counseling to youth leadership.
4 At present, Gordon told me, the PRC provides six major services: blood services, disaster management,
safety services, community health and nursing, social services and the volunteer service. All of these, he said,
embody the fundamental principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement humanity,
impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality. These values guide and inspire
all Red Cross staff and volunteers, to whom being a Red Crosser is more than just a philosophy but a way of
life.
PRC has built 59,000 homes and school buildings in disaster-stricken areas. It offers livelihood training and
teaches pupils to wash their hands as a habit.
An example of PRC services was evident during the visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines. At the Quirino
grandstand, Red Cross staff and volunteers attended to 2,018 people taken to its health and first aid stations
and emergency hospitals. According to operation reports, 753 patients had their blood pressure checked, 580
had minor emergency cases, 169 were seen for major medical emergencies, 36 were transported by
ambulances to nearby hospitals, and 480 people needed welfare support. Major emergency cases ranged from
difficulty of breathing, hypotension, hypertension, chest pain, asthma, hypothermia, burn, heart attack, body
stiffness, vomiting, epilepsy attack, and injuries resulting from fall from high structures. A mentally ill patient was
transported to a mental institution in Quezon City, while another patient was revived after losing consciousness
and heartbeat. PRC also assisted 499 people who needed stress debriefing, guidance and counseling and
contact of relatives of missing persons.
For the entire papal visit, PRC put up six emergency field hospitals, first aid stations in various strategic
locations and deployed 40 ambulances, eight Humvees, three ten-wheeler trucks, two water tankers, two fire
trucks, four plastic boats, radios, and satellite phones.
Its been a long way since Henry Dunant, a Swiss and four businessmen, set up in Geneva in 1863 the
International Committee of the Red Cross. This gave rise to the formation of National Red Cross societies and
the Red Crescent Society (in Arab countries).
1 The Philippine Red Cross was officially born in 1947, with roots traced back to the revolutionary days. Inhouse literature describes the PRCs 64 years of existence as intended to help the poorest of the poor and

staffed by professionally trained and truly compassionate men and women ready to lend a helping hand to
those in need whatever their political, racial, and religious persuasions.
PRC was one of the very first agencies to rush to Tacloban to help Yolanda typhoon-victims.
Learning from the lesson of Yolanda, Gordon initiated the construction of a regional disaster management and
logistics warehouse in Subic Bay, Freeport zone. The facility provides space for heavy equipment such as a
water tanker and payloader, trucks and light vehicles and tents ready for use in emergency situations in the
country. Staff and volunteers are trained for capacity building such as logistics management, and disaster
response.
The latest project is the establishment of an P88-million regional disaster management, logistics hub and
training center in Passi City in Western Visayas which would serve the whole Panay Island. The project is
made possible by support from the Korean Red Cross.
Volunteers account for the success of Red Cross societies. There are around 500,000 volunteers in the
country, 45 percent of them youths. They, are on call 24 hours a day, rushing to emergency situations to help
care for patients.
PRC secretary general Gwendolyn Pang is grateful for the enthusiasm of volunteers (who are only given food),
saying, May the spirit of volunteerism continue to flow within us in the coming weeks and months.
Born and existing to help people in need, PRC quickly responds to conflict situations. A Red Cross team from
the Zamboanga chapter quickly motored to the scene of a bomb blast in Guiwan, Zamboanga City after an
explosive device went off and killed one person and injured 52 more on Jan. 23. The chapter set up a first aid
station in the blast area to help treat those who suffered injuries. The chapter also dispatched two ambulances
which transported 12 of the injured in different hospitals in the city.
The Red Cross Movement composed of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), International Committee of the Red
Cross (ICRC) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) expressed
great concern regarding the recent bloody encounter between the Philippine Special Action Force (SAP) that
claimed 64 lives on the side of the government and five from the MILF.
A team from the PRC Cotabato chapter is already on standby to assist and assess the situation and needs of
everyone. Aside from delivering blood, the PRC is also preparing relief efforts for those who are affected by the
recent incident.
2 The PRC is a non-government organization and survives through donations from international organizations,
local individuals and revenue-raising projects. One project is an annual fun run where participants pay a certain
amount to participate in. Money earned is spent on the salaries of staff, operational expenses and equipment
such as x-ray and blood-defining machines, fire trucks and payloaders, ambulances, rescue boats and
Humvees. PRC, Dick said, is the only one with such expensive equipment.
To maintain its operations, the Olongapo chapter housed in four stories rents out spaces on the ground floor for
revenue. Other chapters are doing the same thing.

A multi-story Red Cross building on EDSA-Boni avenue is nearing completion, with funds coming from the sale
of real property. The executive office will move to the new structure, and the old headquarters at the Port Area
will retain its blood service, which features the most modern laboratory equipment. Dick proudly says, because
of the PRCs excellent record, it has been awarded the ISO status.
PRC now has 86 chapters and 16 sub chapters with a total of 102. There are also 45 branches which are
supervised by the chapters. Each chapter raises its own funds for projects and salaries.
Because of Gordons good track record, foreign governments and organizations readily give financial and
material support for Red Cross projects.
If the Philippine Red Cross is hailed as one of the best in the world, its on account of the dynamic leadership
and management skill of Chairman Dick Gordon, 60, who lives the Red Cross song: The Red cross then and
tomorrow, always first, always ready, always there.

http://www.philstar.com/opinion/2015/01/29/1417907/philippine-red-cross-alwaysfirst-ready-and-there

3 vital lessons the Philippine Red

Cross learned from Yolanda
By: Tricia Aquino, Infographic courtesy of the Philippine Red Cross
May 10, 2015 9:28 AM

Providing survivors shelter was a priority of the Philippine Red Cross. PHOTO FROM THE PHILIPPINE RED CROSS

InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5
MANILA - The three lessons the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) learned were vital in disaster response
after its 18-month operations in Yolanda-stricken provinces: speed, access, and collaboration.
On Friday, World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day, the PRC presented Haiyan 18 Months On:
Lessons for Recovery and Resilience at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila in Pasay City.

Speed is the name of the game. We have to really be fast in anything or else the next disaster will
catch up with you, PRC Secretary General Gwendolyn Pang said in an interview.
In fact, she said, the PRC was already on the ground ahead of the typhoon. Officials were sending
alerts to its local chapters and preparing them for the impact.
Shorten time of suffering
You really have to focus, be fast, be flexible, PRC Chairman Richard Gordon said. Shorten that
time so that alleviation of human suffering is faster.
He added that aid from their partners was immediately spent on houses. They used indigenous
material in the form of coconut lumber, and when it ran out, ordered two boatloads of GI sheets.
Of the PRCs target of 83,127 houses to be built, it was already able to construct 54,765.
They were also able to provide livelihood assistance through cash grants, benefitting 55,389
households so far out of its targeted 58,581 households. These grants are coupled with training in
hog-rearing, sustainable farming, and fishing techniques, and sound business practices to help
survivors get back on their feet.
Basic goods should also be brought closer to areas vulnerable to disasters. For example, as Leyte
had been whipped by typhoons since priests began keeping historical records under the Spanish
colonial period, warehouses could be set up in the province, as well as neighboring Cebu. That way,
responders could move aid faster, Gordon said.
Satellite phones, water tankers, and fuel were just some of the provisions that should be on-site.
The PRC even has six payloaders ready to clear debris in disaster-stricken areas so that help can
be rushed in.
Everything is about the anticipation of needs, Gordon said.
Work with the world
The country should also learn to work with the world. The PRC chairman was proud to say that the
PRC was now a model in terms of partnership during disasters. With foreign humanitarian
organizations flying in all at once to extend help, it was important that they not step on one another.
What the PRC did, Gordon said, was to ask them what they were bringing so that the PRC could put
them where they were needed.
It was also important to cooperate with local government and keep them in the loop throughout the
process. Involving the beneficiaries was imperative as well, and the PRC did this by organizing 744
Barangay Red Cross 143 Recovery Committees (BARECOM), which are made up of community
members from various sectors.
The BARECOM are the ones who go to their neighbors to figure out, for example, who should be
given houses immediately, based on the PRCs standards. If one was a widow with seven children, a
senior citizen, or a person with disability, for example, he or she would be placed at the top of the list,
Gordon said.
Involving the local community
Its all local-based; we dont dictate.
By involving the local community, said Pang, operations eventually ran smoothly. Things are falling
into place.

It was everyones responsibility to work on disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. The
government, the nongovernmental organizations, and the beneficiaries must collaborate to achieve a
common goal, she added.
Training the community to become resilient in anticipation of future disasters was another must.
Resiliency meant that one was able to use his or her knowledge to react to disasters and to cope
using his or her resources, Pang explained.
Because we cant be there for them all the time, she reasoned.
Residents should not wait for disasters to happen. Rather, there must be a disaster response and
recovery system in place before they strike.
One should be prepared to respond: volunteers must be trained, models must be in place, and even
paperwork must be ironed out, Pang said.
Relocate away from shorelines
Gordon singled out the government for his final learning from the PRCs experience during Yolanda.
There has got to be movement away from the shorelines, he said. People must be relocated from
hazardous areas, but at the same time, their new homes must be prepared and located in safe
zones.
We shouldnt be fumbling around, he said.
The disaster operations were admittedly challenging, according to Pang. When Yolanda devastated
Eastern Visayas, the PRC was also working in communities affected by the Bohol earthquake and
the Zamboanga siege. Yolanda was then followed by typhoons Glenda and Ruby, compounding the
formers effects.
The super typhoon was an eye-opener. Following the disaster, people were more willing to evacuate
during the following storms, leading to lower death tolls.
Poorer after a disaster
But work still needed to be done in addressing poverty particularly in disaster-prone areas. Because
they will become poorer and poorer, Pang said. This was why it was necessary to empower
communities and make them resilient.
The PRCs work would be geared more toward disaster risk reduction and climate change
adaptation, she added. She promised that the organization would continue to improve and learn
because disasters were getting bigger and bigger.
Lessons in Yolanda, for example, allowed the PRC to send people to respond to the Nepal quake. A
search and rescue team, a water sanitation team, and a team for its emergency field hospital
program were already in the area.
Next week, more teams for water sanitation and the emergency field hospital program would be
deployed.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/110274/3-vital-lessons-the-philippine-red-crosslearned-from-yolanda

FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES
The Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement are:

HUMANITY
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, born of a desire to bring
assistance without discrimination to the wounded on the battlefield, endeavors - in its
international and national capacity - to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever
and whenever it may be found. Its purpose is to protect life and health and to ensure
respect for the human being. It promotes mutual understanding, friendship,
cooperation, and lasting peace among its people.
IMPARTIALITY
It makes no discrimination as to nationality, race, religion, beliefs, class or political
opinions. It endeavors to relieve the suffering of individuals, being guided solely by their
needs and to give priority to the most urgent cases of distress.
NEUTRALITY
In order to continue to enjoy the confidence of all, the Movement may not take sides in
hostilities or engage at any time in controversies of a political, racial, religious or
ideological nature.
INDEPENDENCE
The Movement is independent. National Societies, while auxiliaries in humanitarian
service of their governments and subjects to the laws of their respective countries must
always maintain autonomy so that they may be able at all times to act in accordance
with the principles of the Movement.
VOLUNTARY SERVICE
The Movement is a voluntary relief organization not prompted in any manner by desire
for gain.
UNITY
There can only be one society in any one country. It must be open to all. It must carry
one emblem in its humanitarian work throughout its territory.
UNIVERSALITY
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, in which all Societies have
equal status and share equal responsibilities and duties in helping each other, is a
worldwide organization.

National Blood Services

Disaster Management Services

Safety Services

Health Services

Social Services

Red Cross Youth

International Humanitarian Law