Philippine Red Cross gives toys, shoes to Ormoc kids

ORMOC CITY, Leyte, Dec. 24 (PNA) - The Philippine Red Cross brought cheers to school children in this city by giving out shoes and toys.

The PRC has turned over 2,000 pairs of Korean brand Skono shoes to children of Ormoc City National High School on Tuesday.

It is a fitting Christmas gift to the students of Ormoc City who lost their shoes at the height of typhoon "Yolanda" last Nov. 8, 2013.

PRC chairman Richard Gordon said the shoes were donated by his friend, Joshua Cho.

He added that Patrick Pesengco, another friend, donated Lego toys. The donations coursed through the PRC is a testament of how donors entrusted the biggest humanitarian organization in the country.

Earlier this year, Gordon also led the distribution of Lego toys and school bags in Tanauan, Leyte and other towns.

The giving of shoes and Lego toys is part of the continuing program of the PRC and its partners for the recovery and renewal of Ormoc City after the supertyphoon badly battered the city.

The sizes of the shoes were taken months ahead by the students themselves, before the actual gift-giving.

After the visit, Gordon proceeded to Catarman and Bobon towns of Northern Samar which were badly hit by typhoon Nona. (PNA)
JMC/SQM/Vicky C. Arnaiz

Red Cross completes building 2,698 houses in Leyte

ISABEL, Leyte, Dec. 22 (PNA) – The Philippine Red Cross has turned over on Monday a total of 2,698 houses to the beneficiaries in the towns of Isabel and Merida in Leyte.

The shelter is part of the continuing recovery and renewal program of the PRC and its partners in the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement second year after super typhoon "Yolanda" (Haiyan) pummeled the province to the ground.

PRC Chairman Richard Gordon led the turnover held at the gymnasium across the town hall of Isabel town.

The core shelter is semi-concrete and has individual toilet, which their damaged former homes did not have. The beneficiaries shared sweat equity in constructing their homes.

“I am pleased with the progress of our shelter operation. After two years, we have built 66,800 homes across the Yolanda corridors. We are near our target of 88,800 homes in 2016,” Gordon said.

“We have health centers, livelihood programs, agricultural center, covered court among others,” he added.

In Leyte, the PRC, in support of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (IFRC), has constructed almost 10,000 houses and 1,000 houses in Tacloban City.

There will be 10,000 more houses to be built in 2016 for Leyte towns and Tacloban City.

In 2013, Typhoon Haiyan affected 16 million people and damaged more than 1.21 million houses.

To date, more than four million people remain displaced from their homes.

The PRC, supported by the Netherlands Red Cross (NLRC), has been implementing a Movement-Wide Operational Framework which supports an integrated approach in covering several sectors - shelter, livelihood, health and water supply, disaster risk reduction, and PRC development.

This integrated sectoral program has been implemented in the 16 villages of Isabel and Merida towns.

Isabel Mayor Marcos Greg Cerillo thanked the PRC, its national society partners, private sponsors for the "Haiyan" recovery program they have for the municipality.

Merida Mayor Jesus Antonio Martinez also recognized the huge support from the Red Cross, the biggest humanitarian group in the country.

A photo exhibit of the interventions of Red Cross in the last two years was displayed at the gym.

The livelihood beneficiaries also showcased and sold their harvest of organic vegetables in the venue.

After the storm, the livelihood of the people were badly affected and Red Cross raise the bar by giving them livelihood through organic farming.

Also present to witness the turnover were Guineveine de Jesus, Netherlands Red Cross country representative; Paul Drossou, Canada Red Cross country representative; Alif Multaje, Swiss Red Cross country representative, Resty Lou Talamayan, PRC, chief Haiyan Operations. (PNA)
JMC/SQM/Vicky C. Arnaiz/egr

How Red Cross remains a major force in Yolanda recovery

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 7 (PNA) - The Red Cross has already built 66, 011 houses for the victims of typhoon "Yolanda", the world’s strongest typhoon to hit land on Nov. 8, 2013.

The houses were built in nine provinces, three cities and 73 towns, 762 villages that benefited 1, 224, 413 individuals in central Philippines to date.

The housing project alone has amounted to Php 2.2 billion, while its completion rate also surpassed the housing projects from other aid groups and even the national government in devastated communities.

How did this happen?

“We know ourselves, we know who we are,” came the reply of Philippine Red Cross (PRC) chairman Richard Gordon.

“We are in the business of saving lives…and we are always first, always ready, and always there. Do you think we will stop on anything? We will not,” Gordon said in a speech on November 8 during this year’s second commemorative event of the typhoon in Tacloban city.

Shunning too much publicity and even politicians during the occasion, Gordon found a special time to recognize all the volunteers and donor partners who came to their rescue for one of the biggest Red Cross disaster relief and rehabilitation operations immediately after Yolanda hit the central part of the country.

“We have defined ourselves many times, but of course once in a while we have to make a report, and that report is important because we have donors, that report is important because other people would ask us what we do to justify our 152 years (of existence),” Gordon said.

“We have a responsibility to go back to our history… inspired by our noble history, because that give strength to our organization,” he added, while recalling the massive efforts the Red Cross organization have done since day one after Yolanda.

In his report, Gordon disclosed that they have disbursed Php 592, 180, 000 for livelihood assistance which include conditional cash grants benefiting 59, 218 families.

Another 1,109 individuals age 18 to 36 years old are enrolled in skills training program which cost Php 33.27 million. At least 135 individuals completed the skills training program and are already employed.

While 6, 001 individuals are also supported with livelihood technical training.

On health, Gordon said that they have repaired and reconstructed 38 health facilities amounting to Php 23.36 million, provided 77 health facilities (60 rural health units; 17 district hospitals) with medical equipment amounting to Php 13.47 million and gave opportunities to 121 communities to participate in community-based health programming while mobilizing 1,145 Red Cross 143 volunteers in implementing it amounting to Php 18.15 million.

Red Cross also assisted 42, 222 individuals with medical consultations, health promotions and health care referral, and supplement feeding.

On water sanitation and hygiene, Gordon said 32 schools were provided with water sanitation and facilities (PhP16 million), while 55,503 families or 277, 515 individuals participated in hygiene promotion activities and provided with water and sanitation facilities (Php 27.75 million).

While on education, 410 classrooms were rehabilitated and constructed (Php 68.59 million) and 5, 083 school kits were distributed (Php 2.54 million).

These on top of their emergency period response from Nov. 8, 2013 to March 30, 2014 which covered food ration to 1.95 million individuals, or 390,399 families, and distributed non-food items such as plastic mats, blankets, mosquito nets, water containers, tarpaulins and kitchen sets to 1.29 million people, or 258,972 families.

Also during early recovery phase, its cash assistance program supported 90,779 families or 453,895 persons totaling Php 281.52 million from Dec. 2013 to March 2014. The Unconditional cash relief given per family was ranging from Php 2,000 and Php 5,000.

“When we remember today…we do it well…It is our time to say what we have done,” Gordon said, while reminding the organization for a “ceaseless recovery and renewal” coupled with its trademark of “integrity and transparency.”

“This is just continued effort…Suffering shall not stop. We are here not to congratulate ourselves but to strengthen our character…We lead and you lead,” Gordon added, noting on the importance of “focus, fast, flexible and forward looking” attitude in the organization to maintain its vision in service of humanity.

Tragedy recalled

Gwendolyn Pang, PRC secretary-general, during the event remembered how they in the Manila headquarter lost contact of their team on the ground in Leyte province at about 4 a.m. on Nov. 8 two years ago.

“It took us almost 24 hours to be connected with them again. Our Chairman stayed with us in the Headquarter even days before Yolanda made landfall. Already, we have deployed many of our prepositioned goods, equipment, vehicles, mobilized our volunteers, and many of our volunteers and staff were affected greatly by Yolanda. We were actually clueless of the extent of the devastation.

"But I think, what prepared us well is because of the power of humanity, the leadership of our Chairman Gordon, and the very strong passion of the volunteers and staff that made us go through these difficult times,” Pang said.

“In my 18 years in professional work with PRC I’ve never seen such devastation, suffering, hardships, challenges. Overwhelming, that is. The support and encouragement we received however in the PRC from the whole Red Cross and Red Crescent committee, private sectors, government, from other groups were also overwhelming. In the aftermath, Red Cross became the beacon of hope.

“And I would see into the eyes of the people that we serve, and even within us in the PRC that whenever we see the Red Cross emblem, we see hope and also inspiration,” she added.

According to Pang, Yolanda response is the biggest operation they have in recent history in PRC and Red Cross Red Crescent movement, “with over 12,000 selfless volunteers who came and responded, with over USD450 million worth of collective operation budget.”

“We’re very happy of the support of 138 Red Cross Red Crescent globally, with over 100 private and multi-national companies, and around 80 locals and international partner organizations working with us side by side.

"Let us continue to remember those who perished from this tragedy. We don’t want to lose more lives unnecessarily in the future. Our Chairman always, on the reminder on this, that we should always excel in whatever we do, give the best humanitarian services, but he also wants us to prepare very well,” Pang said, as they paid tribute to the “great men and women” of the Red Cross “whose service and lives were put above themselves in the service of other people.”

“We are thankful of those many people. Their generosity and kindness…This is not an easy operation for PRC. Yolanda stretched us to the limit. Yes, we were faint but we did not break. The whole country came stronger from that experience. Yolanda was worst thing that happen to us but it also brought the best in us,” Pang said.

Proud movement

Xavier Castellanos, Red Cross Director for Asia Pacific, also expressed his gratitude to the volunteers and staff of the organization.

“I feel very proud, because what the PRC symbolizes of our humanitarian mission is very big. Yolanda tested PRC capacity to response…Every one of us we can comfortable that we have Red Cross with highest standard,” Castellanos said, while praising Chairman Gordon of his leadership and commitment.

While Sari Nissi, Deputy Head of Delegation at International Committee of the Red Cross, gave assurance that the organization remains “committed” to serve the local communities in case another emergency do occur in the country.

“The resilience of the survivors is remarkable.”

Endless gratitude

PRC-Leyte Chapter Administrator Miguel T. Tezon and Eastern Samar Red Cross Chapter Chairman Jesse Solidon thanked IFRC for their help.

Mayor Cheeryl Enrica Esperas of San Miguel town in Leyte took the opportunity to express gratitude to the Red Cross “for being the first to visit our town and never left this day.”

“Red Cross encourages me to stand up, to work hard in the town,” she added.

Her town received 885 houses and 1, 800 livelihood support from Red Cross.

“I will be forever indebted to Red Cross,” Esperas said.

Joining her was Barugo town mayor Alden Avestruz, who also thanked PRC and Chairman Gordon after receiving housing and livelihood assistance for the affected families in his area.

“No need to thank Gordon. We thank you for your goodness…We don’t give, we promote renewal, dignity,” the PRC chairman said.

More than 7,500 people were killed during typhoon Yolanda mostly from Tacloban city and nearby towns. (PNA)br>RMA/SQM/Ronald O. Reyes/egr

PRC renews commitment to complete post-‘Yolanda’ projects by 2017

TANAUAN, Leyte, Dec. 1 (PNA) – The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) vowed to finish all projects they have started in Yolanda-hit communities by 2017.

PRC Chairman Richard Gordon said ongoing projects include health centers, houses, and numerous livelihood opportunities for the victims.

In Leyte alone, PRC has already donated 29,000 houses and they are about to finish an additional 5,000 or a total of 34,000 houses for the province.

Gordon emphasized that their focus are on housing, school building constructions and livelihood projects so as not to delay the education of children.

Gordon said they are targeting that by 2017, all the projects intended for the victims of super typhoon Yolanda will be finished.

“However, PRC will stay beyond 2017, but our work will focus on building the capacity of people to be a member of a resilient community,” Gordon added.

PRC is also building a training center and two warehouses in Leyte. The humanitarian organization acquired their own boat which could dock in places without ports to respond to the needs of disaster-stricken communities.

Gordon was in the province to lead the turnover of new classrooms to several schools in Tanauan town and Tacloban City. (PNA)
FPV/SQM/LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA/EGR

Red Cross completes 52 classrooms in Leyte

TACLOBAN CITY, Nov. 30 (PNA) -– The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) has completed the reconstruction of 52 classrooms in Tanauan town and this city as part of the humanitarian organization’s assistance for typhoon-affected Leyte province.

The PRC, led by its chairman Richard Gordon turned over 52 classrooms in Leyte on November 27.

The ceremonial turnover of the reconstructed and repaired 42 classrooms for Tanauan was held at Tanauan II Central Elementary School, Canramos village. The said school received two-storey building with six classrooms.

According to Gordon, getting children back to school after Yolanda was the immediate response of Philippine Red Cross after the emergency assistance. The Red Cross is giving priority to education because it is the key to progress and prosperity.

The reconstructed classrooms included the classic Gabaldon building. The said prototype was for Elementary and High Schools designed by William Parsons. In the 19th century, Assemblyman Isauro Gabaldon allotted budget for the prototypes thus it was named “Gabaldon buildings.”

The classrooms were turned over to Tanauan Mayor Pelagio Tecson, school principal Geraldine Mangaliman, Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla represented by Aurora Villarente, Department of Education officials, Tanauan and village officials.

The other schools included Tanauan National High School with 11 classrooms, Tanauan School of Craftmanship with 10.

These classrooms were made possible with the support of the Japan Red Cross represented by Mari Morimoto in the turnover.

The turnover of classrooms in Sagkahan National High School and Sagkahan Elementary School in Tacloban City was held in the afternoon of November 27. Both schools were given 10 classrooms.

On February 10, 2014 exactly three months after the storm, Philippine Red Cross built 166 transitional classrooms donated by the Chinese Red Cross and Red Crescent Society. The 166 classrooms were constructed in 40 days and spread in Tacloban City and Leyte towns.

For Leyte, PRC has already built 254 classrooms just 48 classrooms short of its 302 target in its recovery program.

Gordon added that construction of new classrooms, classrooms repair and rehabilitation is just one of the various projects undertaken by the Red Cross under its recovery program.

PRC and partners have also given unconditional cash grant, psychosocial support to the typhoon survivors, built shelter, provided livelihood assistance, constructed and rehabilitated health facilities, constructed water and sanitation facilities in schools, aside from emergency food and non-food relief items among others.

Tecson is grateful that PRC was among the first that immediately assisted the town and its people. The mayor was a former board of director of the PRC Leyte Chapter.

A photo exhibit that showcases the accomplishments of the Philippine Red Cross Haiyan Operations was on display at the Tanauan II Central School starting on November 27 until December 5.

It will be transferred to the three other schools recipient of the donation before the photo exhibit will be transferred to Sagkahan National High School in Tacloban City.

Two years after the typhoon, Gordon reported that PRC has already built 66,976 houses, provided livelihood assistance to 59,218 families, repaired and constructed 38 health facilities, provided 34 schools with water and sanitation facilities, and rehabilitated and constructed 418 classrooms, in total to Yolanda-affected municipalities in the central Philippines. (PNA)
FFC/SQM/VICKY C. ARNAIZ/EGR