Richard Gordon reelected to 4th term as Red Cross chair

Richard Gordon. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Former Sen. Richard J. Gordon has been reelected chair of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) by a majority of the humanitarian agency’s 30-member board of governors who convened for their first monthly meeting in Manila on Thursday.

This was the fourth time Gordon, a Red Cross volunteer for more than 45 years, was elected chair since he was first voted into the position in 2005. He will serve a fresh two-year term.

In a statement, Gordon pledged to continue to lead in the transformation of the Red Cross in order to meet growing humanitarian challenges—in accordance with the principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, namely, humanity, impartiality neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

Always there

He also vowed to keep the Red Cross “always first, always ready, always there” in times of calamity.

In government, Gordon, who graduated from Ateneo de Manila University and the University of the Philippines Law School, served aside from senator as Olongapo City mayor, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority chair and tourism secretary.

He was a member of the governing board of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in Geneva, Switzerland, representing the Asia-Pacific region from 2006 to 2010.

Other PRC officers elected by the board were former Santiago City (Isabela) Mayor Amelita Navarro as vice chair; former Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Alma de Leon, secretary; constitutionalist and women’s welfare advocate Leonida Ortiz, treasurer; lawyer Lorna Kapunan, counselor; former Cagayan Economic Zone Authority chair Rodolfo Reyes, assistant secretary; and Valenzuela City Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian, assistant treasurer.

143 Program

In his previous terms, Gordon spearheaded the transformation of the PRC into the foremost humanitarian organization in the country that would serve as a government auxiliary in providing relief, health and welfare aid to the most vulnerable, especially in times of disaster and other emergencies.

He proposed the Red Cross 143 Program, a volunteer program that recruits and trains 44 volunteers in every barangay (one leader and 43 members) to serve as humanitarian arms and disaster responders on the ground.

Million Volunteers Run

Gordon also initiated the expansion and modernization of PRC’s blood service facilities and equipment and the acquisition of 237 emergency vehicles, including amphibian craft, rubber boats, fire trucks, rescue vans and ambulances.

He was also the driving force behind the Red Cross Million Volunteers Run that served as the central activity of the country’s celebration of the United Nations’ declaration of 2011 as the International Year of Volunteers.

Republic Act 10072

As a senator, Gordon authored and co-authored laws related to the humanitarian services of the Red Cross, including Republic Act No. 10072, or the Philippine Red Cross Act of 2009, which gave the PRC government recognition.

As a nongovernment organization, the Philippine Red Cross is not subsidized by the government. It depends solely on donations for its operations. Its board members serve in a volunteer capacity for a minimum of four consecutive years.