The Philippine Red Cross’ food trucks fed more than 28,000 flood victims after the exit of severe tropical of “Paeng” from the country.
Paeng caused damage to livelihood and disrupted food and water supplies. PRC has been attending to vulnerable communities in hard-hit areas to alleviate hunger and reduce the food security concerns of affected families.
“The nutrition of people in areas hardest hit by Paeng could be affected because the access to food and safe water in typhoon-affected towns and cities is usually disrupted,” said PRC Chairman and CEO Richard J. Gordon.
“We at Philippine Red Cross [PRC] will continue boosting our efforts to address the nutrition needs of our kababayans in vulnerable situations,” Gordon added.
As of November 4, PRC has served hot meals to 28,029 individuals in cities and towns affected by Paeng: Maguindanao, Zamboanga, Tawi-Tawi, Aklan, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Iloilo, Northern Samar, Antique, Cebu, Masbate, Romblon, Palawan, Bataan, Cagayan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Batangas, Catanduanes, Laguna, Zambales, Aurora, Pangasinan, Kalinga, Quezon, Nueva Vizcaya, Marinduque, Isabela, Bulacan, Manila, Marikina, Rizal, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, and Pasig-Pateros. PRC also distributed 2,499 bottled water in Cagayan.
Meanwhile, Gardenia Bakeries, a long-time food donor of PRC, donated bread loaves distributed to 1,455 affected families in Laguna and Pampanga.
During his first term as a senator in 2009, Chairman Gordon authored the Republic Act No. 9803 (RA9803) or the Food Donation Act of 2009, which aims to address the country’s growing hunger problem and bring dignity back to the most vulnerable simultaneously.
Since October 28, PRC has positioned relief assets and equipment, such as payloaders, water tankers, and food trucks to Paeng-affected communities.
PRC staff and volunteers are monitoring the affected families’ further needs for food, safe water, clothing, shelter, hygiene, sanitation, and medical and psychosocial care.
PRC in Maguindanao
The PRC volunteers and staff also continue aid efforts in Datu Odin Sinuat (DOS), Maguindanao, which was among those hardest hit by Paeng.
Together with Australian Aid, PRC distributed sleeping kits and hygiene kits to 425 individuals in Barangay Awang.
Two plastic mats, two mosquito nets, and two blankets comprise each sleeping kit.
A hygiene kit is composed of 12 body soaps, five laundry soaps, 40 sanitary pads, five bath towels, toilet papers, toothbrushes, two toothpaste tubes, and razors.
“In every calamity, the Red Cross is there to help our fellow Filipinos for the long haul. We will be with our fellow Filipinos who have been severely affected by Tropical Cyclone Paeng until they fully recover from its effects. We are always ready to reach the farthest communities to bring them aid,” said Gordon.