Philippine Red Cross turns over 355 transitional shelters in Antipolo

In time for the Yuletide season, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) formally turned over the first 355, out of 1,100, transitional shelters for Typhoon Ondoy affected families in Sitio Sumilang, Barangay San Jose, Antipolo, Rizal on December 22.

And for starters, PRC also provided additional 355 kitchen and sanitation kits to the beneficiaries of the abovementioned shelters, in order to warmly welcome all of them in their new homes.

No less than PRC Chairman and CEO Richard J. Gordon led the turnover with PRC Secretary General Gwendolyn Pang, Rizal Chapter Chairman Alfred Burgos, International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Head of Delegation Selvaratnam Sinnadura and was also graced by the attendance of Rizal Province Governor Casimiro Ynares, III and other renowned guests.

Christmas is one of the most celebrated occasions in the Philippines; and hopefully, this activity will further give some of the Typhoon Ondoy affected families more reason to rejoice," Gordon cheerfully uttered.

He added, "We truly understand that most, if not all, of them tremendously suffered from late last year's super typhoon's attack; but despite the said desolation, we are looking forward that this event could help them rebuild their lives."

In totality, PRC targets to put up 3,476 transitional shelters for the vulnerable families who have been devastated by last year's successive super typhoons, Ondoy and Pepeng. As of December 20, a sum of 1,744 have already been constructed within the areas of Benguet, La Union, Laguna, Kalinga, Pangasinan, and Rizal; not to mention the 5,418 shelter repair kits that have been distributed nationwide to some of the families who were left with partially damaged houses after the said super typhoons.

"Currently, we are at the rehabilitation stage of our Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng operation," Pang elaborated, in line with the still ongoing transitional shelter project.

She also added, "Other than transitional shelters, we are also working on the provision of livelihood programs for those typhoon-affected families who wish to start income generating activities."

According to recent records, around 986 families have already benefited from PRC's livelihood program. Each of them has received Php 7,000.00, which could serve as a starting capital for their prospected businesses.

Meanwhile, it has been recorded that, all in all, the PRC was able to provide more than 15,000 homes all over the country—particularly in the provinces of Southern Leyte, Albay, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Marinduque, Mindoro Oriental, Quezon, Aurora, Isabela, Nueva Ecija, Quirino, Sorsogon, Lanao del Norte, Iloilo, and Aklan—for families affected by major disasters ever since year 2005.


www.redcross.org.ph
Photos courtesy of Edgardo Vasquez