The Philippine Red Cross (PRC), with support from international humanitarian and health partners, is backing the government-led Ligtas Tigdas: Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR-SIA)—a nationwide campaign aimed at protecting millions of Filipino children from measles and rubella.

In a statement issued Tuesday, January 20, PRC said the initiative—supported by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)—seeks to curb the spread of two highly contagious diseases that continue to pose serious health risks to young children.

The Ligtas Tigdas campaign will be implemented in two phases. Phase 1, scheduled from January 19 to February 13, 2026, will cover Mindanao and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Phase 2 will be rolled out in Luzon and the Visayas in June 2026.

During the first phase alone, the campaign aims to reach 800 communities and vaccinate more than 50,000 children, with the deployment of 66 vaccination teams composed of PRC-trained staff and volunteers.

As an auxiliary to the government in the humanitarian field, the Philippine Red Cross will mobilize its nationwide volunteer network to support community engagement, health promotion, and coordination at vaccination sites, particularly in vulnerable and hard-to-reach areas.

“Measles and rubella remain a serious threat to children, especially in communities with limited access to health services,” said PRC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Richard J. Gordon.

“Through Ligtas Tigdas, we are working with our partners to help ensure that no child is left unprotected,” he said. “Vaccination saves lives, and this campaign is a vital step toward preventing avoidable illness and death,” he added.

Meanwhile, PRC Secretary General Dr. Gwen Pang highlighted the importance of community-level engagement in ensuring the success of the immunization drive.

“Our strength lies in our presence at the community level. By working alongside health workers and local governments, our volunteers help build trust and encourage parents to bring their children to vaccination sites,” Pang said. “This is how we protect communities before outbreaks happen,” she added.

The Ligtas Tigdas campaign targets children aged 6 to 59 months, aiming to protect them from severe complications, hospitalization, and death caused by measles and rubella.

PRC reaffirmed its commitment to supporting national and local public health initiatives, disaster preparedness, and community resilience, in line with its humanitarian mandate to prevent and alleviate human suffering.

Individuals interested in learning more about the campaign or other PRC health initiatives may visit the nearest Philippine Red Cross chapter or contact the PRC Hotline 143.