PH Red Cross highlights efforts in 'Haiyan' recovery


The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) highlighted the organization's accomplishments in response, recovery, and resilience programs in areas devastated by the super typhoon Haiyan.

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PH Red Cross / Manila Bulletin

In a statement released on Friday, Nov. 17, the PRC said it had allocated a total of P429 million for recovery interventions in the province of Aklan, one of the areas worst hit by "Haiyan."

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Photo courtesy of PRC

Alongside the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Canadian Red Cross, Finnish Red Cross, Singapore Red Cross, and Spanish Red Cross, the PRC implemented a humanitarian assistance program that aided the needs of Aklan.

With the program, the Red Cross and Red Crescent (RCRC) Movement provided 9,132 homes for displaced people, livelihood training and cash assistance to 6,671 households, and WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) facilities in five schools in Aklan.

Additionally, 11 health facilities were reconstructed or constructed and 24 classrooms were established.

Facing the challenge of assisting over 16 million people—more than 800,000 families—in 600 areas nationwide affected, the PRC said it mounted a P4.9 billion recovery program that benefited over 390,000 families across ten provinces and cities.

Meanwhile, PRC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Richard Gordon acknowledged the organization's international recognition as "one of the premier Red Cross societies globally."

He underscored the PRC's efficiency in gathering and mobilizing support from various RCRC societies worldwide during the Haiyan disaster.

"The Haiyan incident reaffirmed the Red Cross's standing as a reliable organization, making it the preferred partner of choice," he added.

For her part, PRC Secretary-General Dr. Gwen Pang explained the coordinated intervention program, assigning different national RCRC societies to the affected provinces and cities.