Red Cross trains village folk

Richard Gordon. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) on Sunday said it would intensify the recruitment and training of volunteers in every village in the country to increase disaster readiness nationwide.

Under its Red Cross 143 program, the PRC targets one leader and 43 members per barangay who would be engaged in disaster management, health emergencies, blood service program, first aid, psychosocial support program and restoring family links, as well as the promotion of the International Humanitarian Law.

The volunteers will serve as the humanitarian arm of the Red Cross in providing disaster relief and other assistance to vulnerable groups, PRC Chair Richard Gordon said in a statement.

Five-year plan

Gordon said that with quality volunteers, efficient logistics and well-developed information technology, the Red Cross could further strengthen its capacity to cope with humanitarian challenges ahead.

The intensification of the Red Cross 143 project is part of the agency’s five-year plan aimed at reducing the impact of disasters, climate change, public health emergencies, illnesses and other situations of violence on affected families and communities.

“This is the goal of the Red Cross for 2012 to 2016. The PRC mission is to provide timely, efficient and responsive humanitarian services to the most vulnerable in accordance with the principles and values of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement,” Gordon said.

He added that the Red Cross would focus on four core areas: Disasters, public health emergencies, situations of armed conflict and other violence, and the organization’s capacity building. Jerome Aning