Philippine Red Cross Sorsogon campaigns support to the Million Volunteer Run

By Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, NOVEMBER 18 (PIA)….. The province of Sorsogon will lend support to the international statement vision of of the Philippine Red Cross in making the Philippines as the Red Cross Volunteer Capital of the World.

This was the agenda taken up by the members of the board of the PRC Sorsogon chapter here during their regular monthly meeting held last week to highlight the Red Cross 143 program in the campaign for support to the Million Volunteer Run scheduled this December 4

The Philippines in 2009 was identified as the top ranking highly vulnerable disaster prone country and in 2010, it ranked third among countries frequently hit by disasters and natural calamities, thus PRC to address this concern has engaged the mobilization of millions of RC volunteers through the RC 143 program here in the Philippines.

Atty. Arnulfo Perete, chair of PRC Sorsogon explained that the Philippine has a highly organized PRC 143 program where 44 volunteers (1 leader and 43 members) in each of the 42,000 barangays in the country who are now highly trained to cope with and reduce the risks of disasters, enabling them to respond accordingly to any catastrophic event in their respective communities.

With the declaration of the United Nations of the year 2011 as the International Year of Volunteers via Resolution 52/17, the PRC seeks to awaken the spirit of volunteerism in every Filipino through the Red Cross Million Volunteer Run.

This ground breaking event will be held in all key cities and 1,494 municipalities nationwide on December 4.

Here in Sorsogon, the approved plan is a 5km fun run around the city on the said date at 5:30 AM , assembly will be at the Provincial Capitol Park and at exactly 6:00 AM the fun run starts.

A registration fee of P500.00 is required and funds derived from this activity will be given to countries as assistance specially those areas affected by natural calamities.

The Red Cross vision is to engage all first aiders, blood donors, health and welfare volunteers in every home school, business and community all over the Philippines to join in this event to make a statement of making the Philippines as the Volunteer Capital of the World through this activity.

In the meeting, the board committed to show solidarity in this PRC vision and will campaign here for various sectors to join and support this undertaking.

Dr. Alfred Adrian O. Lopez was designated as chair of the activity while Mrs. Zita D. Hababag was chosen as chair of the Fund General Committee. (PIA-SORSOGON)