MANDALUYONG CITY -- On Christmas Day, PRC Chairman and CEO Senator Richard "Dick" Gordon directed the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) to send water tankers and water bladders to the storm-battered Siargao island.

“Above anything else, the people in Siargao need clean water! Kung walang malinis na tubig, kakalat ang iba’t ibang sakit. I’m sending more water tankers and water bladders to the island. We, at the Red Cross, understand that it is critical to prevent and control infectious diseases after natural disasters,” said Senator Gordon.

Saying that Senator Gordon is not new to disasters is a severe understatement. He has been at the forefront of the country’s disaster response for decades. With this vast experience, he knows too well that beyond damaging and destroying physical infrastructure, typhoons such as Odette can and will lead to outbreaks of infectious diseases if not quickly acted upon.

As Siargao deals with the aftermath of Super Typhoon Odette, the death toll may rise exponentially if adequate actions to fix the shortage of clean water are not done immediately. That is why the Red Cross is moving mountains to make it happen.

Gordon will also mobilize PRC’s water treatment system and put-up shop in San Isidro, where the island’s water production site is located.

The Red Cross will establish water collection points across the island through several water bladders. Gordon says that this will allow people to collect water through jerry cans which PRC will also provide.

“As of December 25, merun na tayong 2 water tankers sa Siargao. Nariyan na rin ang water treatment sytem natin to make sure na malinis na tubig ang mga tao. Mayroon na rin food truck sa isla upang magbigay ng mainit na pagkain para sa mga nagugutom. Handa ang Red Cross upang tulungan ang mga kababayan natin na pinadapa ng Odette. Hindi pa man lumalapag ang bagyo, naghahanda na kami,” added Gordon.

Gordon says fully operational medical tents are also on the way to Siargao. These hospital tents are equipped with cots and medicines and manned by PRC’s army of trained volunteers together with its medical corps comprising of doctors, nurses, and other medical allied personnel. (Philippine Red Cross)