The Philippine Red Cross (PRC), in partnership with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), and local partners, on Friday, January 30, launched a simultaneous nationwide relief distribution to assist thousands of families affected by recent earthquakes and typhoons across the Philippines.

In a statement, PRC said the coordinated humanitarian effort is part of its P301.8 million assistance package aimed at helping 23,242 families impacted by the Cebu earthquake, Davao Oriental earthquake, Typhoon Tino (Kalmaegi), and Super Typhoon Uwan (Fung-Wong).

PRC said a total of 4,078 families across 15 provinces received food packs and essential household items on January 30, with a combined value of P14.8 million.

The relief items include hygiene kits, jerry cans, sleeping kits, kitchen sets, and other necessities to address the immediate needs of displaced communities.

The provinces covered in the latest relief distribution include Cagayan, Aurora, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Quezon–Lucena, Palawan, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Surigao del Norte, Davao Oriental, and Cebu.

PRC said the ongoing relief operations are part of a broader humanitarian response covering 17 provinces nationwide, including Kalinga and Southern Leyte.

Since the series of disasters struck last year, the organization has already provided P96 million worth of assistance during the emergency response phase.

PRC said relief efforts continue, with P45 million allocated for food and non-food items, alongside P56.5 million in cash assistance to help families meet urgent needs.

For the recovery phase, PRC said it has earmarked an estimated P125 million to support livelihood restoration, shelter recovery, and long-term community rebuilding.

PRC Chairman and CEO Richard J. Gordon emphasized that the relief efforts go beyond immediate aid.

“Beyond relief, this assistance supports families as they begin to recover and rebuild,” Gordon said. “Through our partnership with the IFRC and the efforts of our local chapters, we are delivering aid that responds directly to the most urgent needs on the ground.”

Meanwhile, PRC Secretary General Dr. Gwen Pang highlighted the importance of conducting the distributions simultaneously across regions.

“By distributing assistance simultaneously, we are reaching families across regions at the same time, avoiding gaps in support and ensuring a coordinated response with our local chapters,” Pang said.

PRC noted that the relief operation aims to help communities affected by flooding, strong winds, displacement, and repeated aftershocks caused by successive tropical cyclones and earthquakes.

Together with its international and local partners, PRC said it continues to mobilize resources to ensure timely assistance while preparing long-term recovery programs to help disaster-hit families rebuild their lives.