The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) provided hot meals to displaced families and distributed clean water to communities impacted by Typhoon Marce (international name: Yinxing) in Northern Luzon.
As of 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 8, PRC reported that hot meals had been provided to 320 individuals in evacuation centers in Cagayan, while food was donated to more than 30 individuals in Apayao.
PRC also noted that 110 people in Cagayan and Ilocos Norte received psychological support during the storm, while 114 children participated in activities within child-friendly spaces established in evacuation centers in both Cagayan and Apayao.
In addition, the PRC distributed 96 liters of clean water and 203 bottles of drinking water to residents.
Furthermore, 50 people participated in the PRC’s hygiene promotion sessions, which included handwashing activities aimed at teaching children proper sanitation and hygiene practices.
Medicines, including doxycycline, were also provided to individuals in Ilocos Norte.
Recent data from the PRC Operations Center shows that Typhoon Marce has caused the evacuation of over 3,000 families—nearly 9,000 individuals—in the Cagayan Valley and Ilocos regions.
Before Typhoon Marce made landfall in Cagayan, RC143 volunteers and staff conducted shelter-strengthening activities, equipping around 17 families in the barangays of Minanga, Paddaya, and Villa Leonora in Buguey, Cagayan, with shelter-strengthening toolkits. These kits contained materials to reinforce homes, helping them better withstand strong winds and heavy rains.
“Our kababayans in the North have had no rest from the harsh impacts of Kristine, Leon, and now Marce,” said PRC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Richard Gordon.
“For the people of Cagayan, we have provided tools to build stronger homes, assisted in early evacuation efforts, and are continuously providing food and water to quell people’s hunger and thirst,” Gordon said.
“As we anticipate more typhoons before the end of this year, we are focusing on implementing preemptive and anticipatory actions to help reduce their effects on communities. Post-disaster relief is vital, but preparedness remains the key,” he added.
PRC Secretary General Dr. Gwen Pang noted that the relentless storms reinforce the importance of disaster preparedness at both the community and individual levels.
“More storms and other disasters will come, so we must be ‘disaster-wais’,” Pang said. “We urge everyone to prepare their ‘go-bags’ in case of emergency evacuation, stay vigilant, keep updated on the news, and follow protocols from the authorities in your areas,” she added.