The PRC-PNB MOA

Donations by companies and individuals to entities committed to serving humanity are cause for rejoicing. The recent signing of memorandum of agreements between the Philippine Red Cross and the Philippine National Bank is evidence of the well-appreciated cooperation of two prominent institutions in ensuring the well-being of persons and communities in need of social services. 

Led by PNB president/CEO Jose Arnulfo “Wick” Veloso and PNB chairperson Florencia Gozon Tarriela, a PNB donation of P5 million for two ambulances was handed over to Philippine Red Cross chairman and CEO Richard J. Gordon. The PNB officers also committed another P2.3 million for the nationwide training of PNB employees in basic first aid and disaster preparedness. The ceremony was held during the 16th Annual Southeast Asia Red Cross and Red Crescent Leadership meeting held at the Manila Peninsula Hotel.

“The Red Cross of the Philippines thrives because of people like PNB president Wick Veloso. Without them, we have no definite resources,” said chairman Gordon.

Gordon cited the efforts of Saeed Daof, PRC governor and co-chair of the disaster management and safety services in getting the two organizations together. Along with PNB vice-chair Enrico Alfiler, and with the support of chairman Gordon, Daof made possible the involvement of PNB in the affairs of PRC. Daof said the holding of the nationwide training programs is the beginning of further cooperation between the two institutions. He knows whereof he speaks, based on his extensive experience in project development as the former chairman of the Southern Philippines Development Authority, vice president for Mindanao Peace and Development of the Philippine Constitution Association, and presently a senior adviser/atty-in-fact of a hydro company.

Veloso has 32 years of banking and capital markets experience. He joined the Lucio Tan-owned bank in November 2018. Concurrently, he is president and director of PNB Management and Development Corp. and a director of Allianz PNB Life Insurance Inc. 

Prior to his current position, he was president and CEO of HSBC (Hongkong-Shanghai Banking Corp) Philippines from December 2012, the first Filipino CEO in its 144 years of operations in the Philippines. Under his watch, HSBC Philippines was named by The Asset as 2018’s best global bank in the country and garnered various industry recognitions for its successful capital market transactions.

Over lunch prior to the PRC-PNB MOA signing, he expressed admiration for the work of PRC in disaster management, and HSBC’s partnership with PRC in the rehabilitation efforts after the onslaught of the catastrophic Haiyan typhoon. HSBC provided technical support, including setting up of telecommunication facilities to enable victims to get in touch with relatives abroad, and monitor donations to PRC in its rehabilitation program.

On the PRC-PNB training project, Veloso emphasized the value of informing the 3,000 staff in the bank’s 712 branches on the mechanics of cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. Knowledge of safety and disaster management will be invaluable not only to the rank and file, but also to the directors and other officers of the institution. He said PNB’s employees will be able to apply their knowledge of saving lives during emergency situations involving residents in their communities.

On the donation of two ambulances,  chairman Gordon said the units will have a GPS (Global Positioning System) and a ventilator system. “Once they have that, they can prolong the life of patients, especially those who will be brought from adjoining areas to better hospitals in the country.”

“When there is a mass casualty event, there are epidemics that are pandemics, so the ambulances are very, very useful.”

According to PRC literature, ambulance response is one of the regular services provided by PRC. On a daily basis, PRC ambulances are called upon through the PRC Operations Center to respond in traffic mishaps, road crashes, as well as for medical and fire emergencies. Most ambulance services provided by PRC are free of charge. Only planned events and other festivities are paid. 

PRC ambulance service provides 24/7 fast and reliable responses and transportation while providing the optimum care to our patients. PRC also provide transportation of ill and injured patients between hospitals to hospitals or from hospitals to home or home to any treatment facilities.

PRC has acquired 29 ambulance units as addition to the growing number of PRC response tools since 2015. This includes the ambulance unit acquired by PRC through the support of our generous donors. 

From Jan. 1 to Oct. 22, 2019, 54,044 individuals have been served by the ambulance services. In terms of patients attended to by this fleet of ambulances, there is a remarkable increase of patients served from 2017 to 2018. In 2019, PRC has responded to 8,234 ambulance runs which 75 percent are free of charge and attended to 54,044 patients as of Oct. 22 of which 52,670 or 97.5 percent is free. This indicates that most ambulance services provided are for indigent patients. These responses were attended by the ambulance units that PRC has.

Attending the PRC-PNB MOA agreement held at the Manila Peninsula were, on the PRC side, chairman Gordon, governor Daof, secretary general Elizabeth Zavalla, and governors Corazon de Leon and George Lim. On the side of PNB were president Jose Arnulfo Veloso, chair Tarriela, vice-chair Felix Alfiler, vice president Rodrick Soriano, and directors Edgar Cua, Florido Casuela, Leonilo Coronel, Simeon Yap and Federico Pascual.

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