MANDALUYONG CITY -- Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and CEO Sen. Dick Gordon was sought for comment during a recent PTV-4 #LagingHandaPH public briefing program.

“Hindi importante ang pagpunta ko sa Cebu, sa Surigao at Siargao. Ang importante December 17 pa lamang, ng tumama ang bagyo, nakakasa na ang Red Cross at nakapagpadala na kami ng mga lifelines. Kung walang kuryente, nagpadala kamI ng generators. Kung walang tubig, nagpadala na kami ng mga water tankers. Nagkalat na ang mga water tankers namin sa iba’t ibang probinsiya. May tatlo sa Bohol, may tatlo sa Cebu, may tatlo sa Surigao at Siargao, mayroon sa Dinagat, sa Palawan mayroon din, para mapawi ang uhaw ng ating mga kababayan at mabigyan sila ng malinis na tubig,” said Gordon.

Gordon’s emphasis on bringing lifelines cannot be overstated especially when it comes to providing the affected communities with clean water as the threat of waterborne diseases such as diarrhea can wreak havoc on the areas devastated by Odette.

Sen. Dick Gordon also stated that apart from water tankers and water filtration systems, the Red Cross also deployed its Hot Meals On Wheels food truck fleet to provide families with nutritious hot meals which are critical in areas that have no access to markets which remain closed or to the means to prepare meals.

“Labin-limang food trucks ang dineploy namin sa iba’t ibang probinsya kabilang ang Siargao, Surigao, Bohol, Cebu, Palawan, Negros Oriental, at Southern Leyte, upang mabigyan ng pagkain ang ating mga kababayang nagugutom,” added Gordon.

Gordon also stated that the water tankers and food trucks are just among some of the assets of the Red Cross to help the Odette-stricken areas. The PRC also deployed payloaders to clear the roads filled with typhoon debris so that additional relief could be distributed without further delay.

“Nagpadala kami ng mga payloaders, para makapasok tayo dun sa mga nakaharang. Sa Southern Leyte, malawak na ang natahak ng payloaders natin, ganun din sa Cebu, at ganun din sa Surigao,” added Gordon.

In Bohol, where Gordon was supposed to visit but was hindered first by inclement weather and then again when the PRC delegation plane’s pilot tested positive for COVID, distribution of cash grants amounting to 3 million pesos pushed through in the town of Ubay, Bohol’s ground zero during the Odette onslaught. Ten GI Sheets were also given to each affected family in Ubay and Talibon, together with shelter repair kits so families could build their homes anew. Gordon stated that more help will come to the affected areas.

“Naglagay na kami ng 30-bed hospital tents sa Siargao, sapagkat nasira ang hospital doon, nagkaka-diarrhea na kasi ang bata doon. Nagpadala na rin kami ng mga gamot para mabigyan ang mga bata doon ng tulong,” exclaimed Gordon.

Gordon helped hand out 470 intravenous fluid packs for diarrhea patients in the PRC medical tents outside Siargao District Hospital. The three medical tents serve as extension wards, providing an additional bed capacity to the Siargao District Hospital. One tent caters to pediatric patients, while the other two cater to adults and patients needing isolation.

“Tinatawagan ko ang ating mga kababayan, do not make this Typhoon (Odette) a forgotten disaster. Tapos na ang Pasko. Hindi tayo nakapagbigay, natamaan pa tayo ng pagtaas ng kaso ng COVID, ngunit ang Red Cross hindi namin kayo pababayaan,” stated Gordon.

Gordon also appealed to the nation to pray for the Philippine Red Cross so it can get much-needed help from generous donors from the international community and local partners so that the country’s foremost humanitarian organization can continue to help the Odette-affected communities. (Philippine Red Cross)