Senator Dick Gordon, chairman and CEO of the Philippine Red Cross, has assured continued assistance to more than 700 families affected by the series of devastating earthquakes that hit different parts of Mindanao.
“We will continue to support the people of Kidapawan and the other provinces devastated by the earthquakes. The Red Cross will continue to provide food, water, shelter and health services as well as promote sanitation. We have already provided five water tankers, three medical tents, food trucks and temporary shelter. From Day 1, after the first earthquake last October 16, PRC staff and volunteers were immediately deployed to provide necessary assistance,” Gordon said during a relief distribution in Kidapawan recently.
The veteran legislator led the distribution to some 420 families in Kidapawan City who received hygiene kits and food items and to 357 families from Magsasay, Davao Del Sur, who received non-food items such as sleeping and hygiene kits, jerry cans and tarpaulins. The seasoned lawmaker further assured them that livelihood assistance will also be provided.
“We help them get back on their feet again.”
“I came here not to give but rather to see kung anong kulang. With the IFRC (International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies) and our donor partners, we will expand these services further such as cash grants before Christmas and livelihood to enable you to get back on your feet. When we assist, we want to ensure na hindi magiging pala-hingi o pala-asa yung tinutulungan namin, kaya we help them get back on their feet again,” the senator said.
“When the world no longer watches, we do what must be done.”
“Napagdaanan ko na ito kasama ng Red Cross — mula sa Nueva Ecija earthquake, Pinatubo, Yolanda, Marawi. We know what it takes to get people on their feet again. We measure our success not in what we give but in our ability to lift people up. We continue to assist until they can be on their own feet again long after other organizations have gone. As our hymn goes, ‘When the world no longer watches, we do what must be done,'” he added.
The series of devastating quakes in various provinces in Mindanao damaged 38,759 houses and affected a total of 70,378 families.