By Jel Santos
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) distributed relief goods over the weekend to 67 families affected by the eruption of Taal Volcano.
PRC chairman and Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chair Senator Richard Gordon (Manila Bulletin)
The humanitarian organization distributed to the families housed in a Batangas evacuation center non-food items such as tarpaulins, mosquito nets, jerry cans, and hygiene kits containing shampoo and conditioner, bath soap, and toothbrush and toothpaste, among other items.
In such hard times, PRC Chairman Richard Gordon urged residents to foster a spirit of volunteerism and help each other.
“Ngayon, gusto rin naming kayong matutong maging Red Cross sa pagvo-volunteer. Dapat may kusang loob, malasakit at kapwa-tao. ‘Yon lang ang kailangan (I want all of you to be like Red Cross volunteers. You should have initiative, compassion, and care for others ),” he told evacuees at the distribution on Saturday.
Gordon recalled to evacuees his experience during the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in June 1991.
He was Olongapo City’s mayor when the eruption took place, and said he mobilized his constituents to volunteer instead of being disheartened.
Gordon said he is hoping the PRC would be able to provide homes for the victims of the eruption like they did for typhoon Yolanda victims in 2013, when the PRC provided 81,000 shelters.
PRC said it has established a Tent City in Barangay Malainan, a month after the recent eruption of Taal.
“Tents were built on a 7,000 square meters land that was provided by the local government. The project was made possible with the help of the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) and the Spanish Red Cross,” the organization said.