The Regional Director of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) for the Asia Pacific commended Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Richard Gordon for "efficiently and effectively" bringing assistance to the most vulnerable communities in the country.
"You know we (the Federation) are very lucky, you are very lucky, in the Philippines, you have one of the best Red Cross Societies in the whole world, and you have one of the best Red Cross Leaders in the whole world, Chairman Richard Gordon," said IFRC's Alexander Matheou at the typhoon "Odette" Recovery Operations in Surigao Del Norte and Dinagat Islands on Sept. 15.
During the program, a total of P12.5 million worth of assistance was released for typhoon “Odette” victims in San Benito, Siargao Island; Surigao City; and Basilisa, Dinagat Islands.
PRC said that Matheou also praised Gordon for leading PRC's disaster and humanitarian responses over the past 20 years.
IFRC is the "world's largest humanitarian network" that supports local Red Cross and Red Cresent action in over 192 countries worldwide.
The two humanitarian organizations together with the German Red Cross, Spanish Red Cross, Netherlands Red Cross, and the European Union have been continuously providing cash assistance and shelter tools kits to families affected by typhoons "Odette" and "Agathon."
Also, these organizations' other project called Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Peace and Development Project is also sending cash aid to families distressed by armed conflicts in the said region.
These are parts of PRC, IFRC, and other Red Cross organizations' collaborative efforts to dispense P455 million worth of assistance to calamity and armed conflict victims across the country.