PRC committed to help Cebu – Gordon
Published Jul 1, 2023 10:58 am
CEBU CITY – Over the past decade, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) has distributed at least P1 billion in emergency and recovery assistance to Cebu.
PRC Chairman and CEO Dick Gordon said the humanitarian organization “has always been there for Cebu.”
“Cebuanos are important to PRC and to me. The assistance that PRC continues to extend to Cebu only shows our commitment to help the families affected by disasters,” Gordon said in a press conference during a visit to Cebu on Saturday, July 1.
PHILIPPINE Red Cross Chairman and CEO Dick Gordon fields questions from reporters during a media briefing in a hotel in Cebu City on Saturday, July 1. Among those who joined Gordon in the event were former Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and his wife Margot. (Calvin D. Cordova)
Gordon, who has been at the helm of PRC’s operations for two decades, said the amount of assistance reflects PRC’s commitment to Cebu. “When the world no longer watches, we do what must be done,” he said. In Cebu alone, the PRC has built 8,741 houses, which are equivalent to P452 million, repaired 1,263 houses (P12 million), provided livelihood worth (P89 million) to 8,854 families, and released cash grants worth P43 million to 12,517 families. The PRC has also distributed food items worth P2 million to 21,789 families in Cebu. “The services we give to Filipinos extend beyond response and relief. We support communities in the recovery and rehabilitation stage as well,” said Gordon. Other PRC officials were in attendance during the activity. Gordon particularly thanked PRC Gov. Joy Roble, whose fleet of passenger ships were used to transport relief goods to Leyte when the region was battered by typhoon “Yolanda” (international name “Haiyan”) in 2013. Roble, the former mayor of Hilongos town, Leyte province, is the President and CEO of Roble Shipping Lines. Gordon emphasized that it is important that the projects have continuity in order to empower the affected families to rise from the ravages of disasters. “I asked the Red Cross National Societies and other donors to support the relief efforts as well as the post-disaster development projects in Cebu,” he said. These initiatives include the implementation of community disaster risk reduction efforts, sustainable and resilient pro-poor water supply programs and Haiyan-related recovery projects, and livelihood programs. Gordon also underscored that disasters are inevitable and urged everyone to be resilient. “Our priorities in the recovery phase must be redirected towards making communities resilient and adaptable to hazards, especially as we observe the Disaster Resilience Month this July,” he said.
PHILIPPINE Red Cross Chairman and CEO Dick Gordon fields questions from reporters during a media briefing in a hotel in Cebu City on Saturday, July 1. Among those who joined Gordon in the event were former Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and his wife Margot. (Calvin D. Cordova)
Gordon, who has been at the helm of PRC’s operations for two decades, said the amount of assistance reflects PRC’s commitment to Cebu. “When the world no longer watches, we do what must be done,” he said. In Cebu alone, the PRC has built 8,741 houses, which are equivalent to P452 million, repaired 1,263 houses (P12 million), provided livelihood worth (P89 million) to 8,854 families, and released cash grants worth P43 million to 12,517 families. The PRC has also distributed food items worth P2 million to 21,789 families in Cebu. “The services we give to Filipinos extend beyond response and relief. We support communities in the recovery and rehabilitation stage as well,” said Gordon. Other PRC officials were in attendance during the activity. Gordon particularly thanked PRC Gov. Joy Roble, whose fleet of passenger ships were used to transport relief goods to Leyte when the region was battered by typhoon “Yolanda” (international name “Haiyan”) in 2013. Roble, the former mayor of Hilongos town, Leyte province, is the President and CEO of Roble Shipping Lines. Gordon emphasized that it is important that the projects have continuity in order to empower the affected families to rise from the ravages of disasters. “I asked the Red Cross National Societies and other donors to support the relief efforts as well as the post-disaster development projects in Cebu,” he said. These initiatives include the implementation of community disaster risk reduction efforts, sustainable and resilient pro-poor water supply programs and Haiyan-related recovery projects, and livelihood programs. Gordon also underscored that disasters are inevitable and urged everyone to be resilient. “Our priorities in the recovery phase must be redirected towards making communities resilient and adaptable to hazards, especially as we observe the Disaster Resilience Month this July,” he said.