Philippine Red Cross rising

On Nov. 8, 2013,  Typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan), the stronges typhoon ever known to make  landfall in recorded history, ravaged 40 provinces in central Philippines. More than 16 million people were affected, approximately 7,350 died, 4.1 million displaced, more than a  million homes destroyed, farms wiped out.

The devastation launched one of the world’s biggest humanitarian and relief and recovery operations. International organizations, governments and individuals rushed to the scenes of destruction,  bringing funds and equipment and volunteers to lift the spirits  and give hope to survivors who lost loved ones and material possessions,  however meager, that they used to live by.

Characteristically, the Philippine Red Cross, together with its  partners in the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement and other private donors and corporations, was one of the first humanitarian organizations to respond to the cries for help. At a press conference the other day – exactly three years after Haiyan’s onslaught,  PRC chair and CEO  Richard Gordon   presented PRC’s  accomplishments in terms of disaster response and community  resilience- building  three years after the onslaught of Haiyan.

Through its Typhoon Haiyan Recovery Operations, the PRC has built 76,461 houses for Yolanda survivors to date. “In the three years of our Haiyan recovery operations, we have accomplished 95 per cent of our target number of houses to be built, and we are fast-tracking the completion of the remaining shelters to be built for Yolanda survivors.’’

The houses were completed through the support of PRC partner national societies in the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC,) and corporate and private donors.

The shelter beneficiaries were  supported in terms of core shelters built using the “build back better” principle, reconstructed what remained of houses, installed  shelters with latrine.  Gordon said the beneficiaries were chosen from among the poorest survivors.

Aside from shelter, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement supported  62,670  families with livelihood assistance through cash grants, more than 2,000 families through skills training programs, 12,790 individuals with livelihood technical training, and 122 community-managed livelihood projects.

In education, 510 classrooms were rehabilitated and reconstructed,  and school kits were distributed to 8,375 student beneficiaries.

In the area of health, families have been given access to improved health and sanitation facilities and services. Sixty eight health facilities were repaired and reconstructed. PRC provided some 190 communities with community-based health programming,  and assisted 42,222 individuals with medical consultations, health promotion, health care referral and supplemental feeding.

At the press con, a video showed school children running gleefully to a wash section outside a school building  where they washed their hands, a habit that Chairman Gordon said is encouraged, even among adult members. This is possible because of the availability of water. It’s standard operating procedure for PRC to build water sources,  and provide electricity.  Each house has a toilet, he said.

PRC’s programs are a big success on account of the large number of volunteers who assist  the regular  staff  in the organization’s activities. The lifeblood of PRC, said Gordon, is these volunteers  – students and professionals – at  the national PRC buildings and local chapters around the country. They are ready to rush with the  staff  to calamity areas to help rescue or assist victims of fires and earthquakes. Thousands of volunteers were at  the Haiyan-affected areas.

Pascal Pochet,  head of delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross, expressed  respect  for the thousands of volunteers “who bring the Red  response to the most remote places in the Philippines.”

Kari Isomaa, head of delegation of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent of Societies, said it seemed an almost impossible task for the Philippine Red Cross to undertake a program for the Haiyan disaster. “But  the word ‘impossible’ is not part of the Philippine Red Cross’ vocabulary.” It is through the relentless work and collective effort of the PRC staff,  volunteers and Red Cross and Red Crescent  Movement partners that made the Typhoon Haiyan operations the biggest and most successful  disaster recovery operations in the Asia-Pacific, he said.

PRC has lined up simultaneous events as a way of remembering and thanking individuals, partners, doctors and other organizations who  helped the affected families and communities rise from the rubbles left by Yolanda.

In Cebu, a ceremonial turnover of a recovery project done in partnership with the Japanese Red Cross Society, will be held in Bogo,  and the inauguration of a blood bank in Mandaue City on November 12.

A highlight of this year’s Yolanda commemoration is the summit to be held on November 24 that will present and recognize partners and private donors who invested their time, resources and efforts  to help affected families in rebuilding their lives.

Present at the presscon were representatives of national Red Cross organizations, PRC Secretary General Oscar Palabyab, and PRC Governors Alma G. De Leon, Ernesto S. Isla, Robert S. Dolde and Saeed A. Daof.

Said Chairman Gordon: “The event will not only give an astounding pre-closure to an accomplished PRC Haiyan Operations, but also set forth the organization’s plans and targets for the coming years.”

* * *

ON ANOTHER FRONT, the National Council of Churches in the Philippines, the largest aggrupation of Protestant and non-Roman Catholic churches in the country, is holding a conference on the response of faith-based groups to assist survivors of typhoon Yolanda. The “NCCP Conference on Typhoon Yolanda Response: Rising Up for Abundant Life,” gathers NCCP member churches and members of the affected communities  9  at the CAWAKSI retreat center in Tacloban city.

Rev. Rex RB Reyes Jr., NCCP general secretary, said that the NCCP member churches from 107 barangays and 18 municipalities covering seven provinces  responded to the urgent needs of over a million Yolanda survivors during  the past three years. The conference, he said, is “a way to look back on the last three years and how churches not only expressed  their solidarity with the poor but also with the victims and survivors.” The conference, he said, is  “a challenge and a call to the government of President Duterte to really address the roots of people’s vulnerability to disasters especially those induced by climate change.”

The NCCP- ACT Alliance has turned over houses as part of its rehabilitation project.  It has provided beneficiaries with fishing boats and coconut seedlings.

Secretary Judy Taguiwalo of the Department of Social Welfare and Development gave her message during the opening of the conference. “Assisting survivors is not only charity, but solidarity,” she said.

* * *

Club Bulakeno will hold its 28^th anniversary ball on Saturday, November 12, at the Rizal ballroom of Makati Shangrila Hotel.

This year’s theme is “The Royal Ascot – My Fair Lady“ under the leadership of  Atty. Jimmy Buhain  and Miladel Lourdes “Milo” Bondoc with the guidance of club founders Engr. Gene and  Lydia Reyes.  The grand event also has the full support of the club’s AMA ng Bulacan  Ambassador Bienvenido R.  Tantoco Sr. and  adviser Nedy Tantoco , president of Rustan’s Corporation .

The club which was founded 28 years ago , provides scholarship programs , livelihood assistance , disaster relief operations , medical and dental mission and many other projects to help and improve the quality of life of the less fortunate and financially deserving Bulakenos.

Email: [email protected]