As part of our emergency response to meet the nutritional needs of people affected by disasters, staff and volunteers from PRC-Capiz distributed hotmeals to 65 individuals in Roxas City. (PRC FB)

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) is now mobilizing its staff and volunteers to provide assistance to families and communities affected and displaced by Typhoon Phanfone (Ursula) in the Visayas and MIMAROPA regions.

In a statement, PRC chairman and Senator Richard Gordon said that the Red Cross is already gathering reports from their chapters and assessment teams from the Eastern, Western and Central Visayas as well as the MIMAROPA regions which were affected by the storm.

“We are getting information from our chapters so we can immediately know the pressing needs of the affected population and send the assistance that each particular area badly need,” said Gordon.

The country’s Red Cross activated 186 personnel, including staff and volunteers since 24 December to respond, assess and send reports of damages to houses and other infrastructure, as well as, flooded areas such as in the town of Paranas in Western Samar, Roxas City and Municipality of President Roxas in Capiz.

As part of an emergency response to meet the nutritional needs of people affected by disasters, staff and volunteers distributed ready to eat meals to 1,279 individuals including stranded passengers in different ports (Cebu- 482, Iloilo-771, Masbate-26) and activated regional hubs in Cebu, Passi, Leyte and MandaluyongCity for possible relief/assets withdrawal.

Red Cross chapters in affected areas established 6 welfare desks in Cebu, Ormoc, Surigao Del Norte and Masbate while two individuals were provided with psychosocial first aid in Surigao Del Norte.

Seven first aid stations were also established in evacuation centers and ports in Ormoc, Cebu, Negros Oriental, Iloilo, Surigao Del Sur to assist stranded passengers, while a total of 10,587 individuals were sheltered in 35 evacuation centers in Western Samar, Cebu, Surigao del Norte, Occidental Mindoro, Iloilo and Romblon as of 25 December.

In Capiz, more than 7,694 families or 25,000 individuals were affected, including 30 families or 150 individuals sheltered in an evacuation center.

“As a response to Mayor Receliste Escolin’s appeal to help his constituents, definitely we will assist the affected families including those in President Roxas. I ordered PRC – Capiz Chapter Administrator Ray Martinez to coordinate with Mayor Escolin,” Gordon said.

PRC-National Headquarters Office and its chapters in Visayas, Northern Mindanao and Southern Luzon are also monitoring the situation on the ground and response for Typhoon Ursula.