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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PH Red Cross receives another food truck to be used during disaster response

PH Red Cross receives another food truck to be used during disaster response

Published May 28, 2021 10:48 pm

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) received a food truck from Australia which is capable of providing hot meals to hundreds of people in aftermath of calamities and disasters.

The food truck is capable of catering hot meals to 800 disaster-affected people within the first 8 hours of operation. (Photo from PRC)

PRC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Richard J. Gordon and Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Steven J. Robinson AO led the ceremony at the PRC National Headquarters in Mandaluyong City on Friday, May 28.

Gordon said that with the assistance from Australia, PRC will be able to reach more communities affected by disasters and conflicts.

“I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to the Australian Government for making Red Cross as the preferred partner of choice in delivering aid and support to the most vulnerable communities,” Gordon said.

The food truck is expected to help PRC in providing swift emergency response during the aftermath of calamities and disasters. It was designed to cater hot meals to 800 disaster-affected people within the first eight hours of operation.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Robinson noted that the support is part of Australia’s long-standing partnership with PRC to deliver immediate humanitarian assistance to Filipinos.

Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Steven J. Robinson AO (left) and PH Red Cross Chairman and CEO Richard J. Gordon led the ceremony at the PRC National Headquarters in Mandaluyong City. (Photo from PRC)

“In the spirit of mateship and bayanihan, Australia has always stood ready to deliver humanitarian assistance to our friends in the Philippine,” he said. “Our quick response is made possible, in part, by our partnership with the Philippine Red Cross, one of our longest-standing and trusted humanitarian partners in the Philippines,” he added.

PRC noted that in the immediate aftermath of any disaster, access to food is usually disrupted since displaced families are unable to prepare their own food.

Recognizing how lack of access to food threatens the health, nutrition and well-being of affected communities, PRC came up with “Hot Meals on Wheels” which program seeks to address this by having a fleet of food trucks that could be easily mobilized to provide food relief within 24 hours of a disaster.

“This food truck will go a long way in helping the people in need as PRC abides by its mandate to be always first, always ready, and always there where we are needed,” Gordon explained.

PRC said that Australia’s donated food truck is part of PRC’s fleet of 15 food trucks stationed in Metro Manila, Albay, Nueva Ecija, Manila, Pasay, Quezon City, Iloilo (2), Aklan, Davao City and Bacolod.

PH Red Cross Chairman and CEO Richard J. Gordon (left) and Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Steven J. Robinson AO during the food truck turnover the ceremony. (Photo from PRC)

Aside from this, Australia and PRC provided relief items to 2,000 families affected by Super Typhoon Rolly and Typhoon Ulysses in the provinces of Catanduanes, Albay and Isabela in In November 2020.

Previously, Australia also assisted PRC in ramping up its COVID-19 testing and response capacity.

PRC said that Australia supported the establishment of the largest molecular laboratory for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) testing in the country.

It also provided a specialized ambulance for transporting COVID-19 positive individuals - along with one million face masks and 20,000 pieces of personal protective equipment for frontline workers.

Related Tags

richard gordon Covid19 PH Red Cross 52821 Steven J. Robinson AO
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