The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) reiterated its commitment to provide the “best humanitarian service” possible towards a better tomorrow for all Filipinos in need as it celebrated its 75th anniversary.
PRC commemorated the 75 years in the service of the Filipino people on April 15, which, according to its Chairman Richard Gordon was “fitting that such a momentous occasion falls during Good Friday, a day of contemplation and reflection for most of our countrymen.”
Gordon said that the PRC originally had its roots in the Philippine Revolution of 1896 but was officially created on April 15, 1947.
“It was initially involved only in the provision of first aid to soldiers at war, supplying blood and medicine as well as some participation in disaster-related rescue activities,” he said.
Almost eight decades later, Gordon said that the PRC “now offers a broad range of humanitarian services” to help the most vulnerable during times of danger.
Gordon joined the Red Cross as a volunteer 55 years ago following in his mother's footsteps.
In 2004, he was elected Chairman and immediately went about a modernization and expansion program.
Gordon shared that from having one ambulance and a few blood banks, PRC now has a state-of-the-art operations center that helps them track and receive disaster updates.
PRC also has its maritime vessel, the MV Amazing Grace, that can deliver relief goods should land transport be problematic after a calamity.
This, on top of two amphibious rescue vehicles, 29 food trucks (each capable of serving nutritious hot meals to 100 people every hour), 28 water tankers that recently provided 15 million liters of potable water to disaster areas affected by Typhoon Odette, payloaders, hospital tents, and 10 warehouses all over the country that “make rescue and response more efficient.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Gordon said that the PRC established 14 molecular laboratories for RT-PCR testing, a service that the organization had never offered before.
“Today, we are the largest testing provider in the country and have conducted over 5 million tests,” Gordon said.
He added PRC also opened 25 vaccine centers and deployed 16 buses to “help make vaccination more accessible to our people.”
PRC, Gordon said, also opened six isolation facilities for those who test positive and need to be segregated from the community to stop transmission and keep people safe.
To date, Gordon said that the PRC is considered the country’s “foremost humanitarian organization and has become the partner of choice for local and international entities that wish to bring immediate yet long-lasting aid to alleviate the suffering of our fellow Filipinos” whose lives are affected by calamities, sickness, disasters, and armed conflict.
Gordon said that PRC’s mantra of “Volunteers + Logistics + Information Technology equals a Philippine Red Cross that is Always First, Always Ready, and Always There, so aptly describes how we are able to accomplish the complexities of our 24/7 tasks.”
PRC’s 75th year, Gordon explained is by “no means a pinnacle milestone for the PRC, but the continuation of our journey towards a century of compassionate humanitarian service to the most marginalized.”
This journey, he added, will be “our inspiration to further develop our organization’s services and provide the resilience that our country needs to face any future uncertainties.”
Gordon also thanked all PRC’s volunteers and staff who have “sacrificed much in our crusade to alleviate the suffering of our countrymen.”