A food truck, satellite phones and other equipment worth P4.5 million were donated to the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) by the Canadian Red Cross (CRC) on Monday, July 19.

The PRC was the beneficiary of millions worth of equipment from the CRC through the Philippines Development Project or locally known as “CA-ANAK.”

PRC receive a brand new “Hot Meals Truck” together with three high-end satellite phones, water rescue equipment, and 20 sets of child-friendly space toolkits through CA-ANAK during the official handover ceremony held at the PRC Tower in Mandaluyong City.

“The Philippines, not just the Philippine Red Cross, is fortunate to have friends from the Canadian Red Cross,” PRC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Senator Richard Gordon said.

PRC said that the equipment handover is the culmination of a five-year partnership between PRC and its Canadian counterpart to provide a disaster risk reduction, health, and first aid program to PRC National Headquarters and selected Chapters since 2017.

“The fruits of the CA-ANAK Project will surely prepare our countrymen in times of disasters and health emergencies,” Gordon said. “It is important that our communities are prepared, just like the Red Cross - Always First, Always Ready, and Always There,” he added.

PRC explained that the CA-ANAK is a long-term development project with the ultimate goal of reducing health and disaster risks within the community.

Among the beneficiaries include the PRC chapters within Capiz, Antique, and Aklan.

Aside from Gordon, the handover ceremony was also attended by PRC Secretary General Elizabeth Zavalla, Assistant Secretary Generals Ramon Murillo and Dr. Christie Monina Nalupta, CRC Country Representative Mlden Milicevic, and CRS Senior Advisor Wartini Pranama.

PRC said that the P4.5 million worth of equipment is part of the more than P110 million grant by the CRC for the CA-ANAK which also started to prepare communities to the risks brought by Typhoon “Yolanda.”