 Seal of the Philippine Red Cross | |
| Abbreviation | PRC |
|---|---|
| Formation | February 17, 1899(asCruz Roja Filipina) December 4, 1917(as a chapter of theAmerican Red Cross) April 15, 1947(as an ICRC-recognized organization)[a] |
| Type | Humanitarian organization |
| Purpose | Humanitarian |
| Headquarters | 37EDSA cornerBoni Avenue,Mandaluyong 1550,Philippines |
Region served |  Philippines |
| Membership | International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement |
Official language | Filipino and English |
Chairman of the Board of Governors | Richard J. Gordon |
| Gwendolyn T. Pang | |
| Website | redcross |
Formerly called | The Philippine National Red Cross |
ThePhilippine Red Cross (PRC;Filipino:Krus na Pula ng Pilipinas;Spanish:Cruz Roja Filipina) is a non-profit humanitarian organization and a member of theInternational Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
The PRC was established in 1947, with roots in thePhilippine Revolution against Spanish colonial rule. It was initially involved only in the provision of blood and short-term palliatives as well as participation in disaster-related activities but they now focus on a wider array of humanitarian services.
At present, the PRC provides six major services: National Blood Services, Disaster Management Services, Safety Services, Health Services, Welfare Services andRed Cross Youth.[1] The National Headquarters of the PRC is located at 37 EDSA corner Boni Avenue, Mandaluyong, Metro Manila.
Apolinario Mabini encouraged theMalolos Republic to form a national Red Cross organization. On February 17, 1899, the Malolos Republic approved the Constitution of the National Association of the Red Cross.[2] The government appointedHilaria del Rosario de Aguinaldo – theconsort ofPresidentEmilio Aguinaldo – as the first head of the association.[3] She cared for wounded soldiers and their families and established theHijas de la Revolución (Daughters of the Revolution) that later becameAsociación Filantrópica de los Damas de la Cruz Roja en Filipinas (Red Cross Association), considered a precursor of the present Philippine Red Cross, and for this she raised funds for medicines and other medical supplies.[4]
Filipino diplomatFelipe Agoncillo met withGustave Moynier, an original member of theInternational Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRC) president on August 29, 1900. He sought recognition of the Filipino Red Cross Society as well as the application of theFirst Geneva Convention during thePhilippine–American War.
On August 30, 1905, theAmerican Red Cross (ARC) formed a Philippine Branch with Filipino and American leaders at theAyuntamiento. After several years of continuous effort, the ANRC officially recognized it as a chapter on December 4, 1917.
In 1934, PresidentManuel L. Quezon established an independent Philippine Red Cross (PRC). However, because the Philippines was aterritory and later aCommonwealth under United States sovereignty, it could not sign the Geneva Conventions and therefore it could not be recognized by the ICRC. In 1942, during theJapanese occupation of the Philippines, the Japanese created a Philippine Red Cross that they controlled to care for internees. OnceManila was liberated by combined American and Filipino forces in 1945, local Red Cross officials and the ANRC re-established an independent Red Cross.
The Philippines gained independence from the United States on July 4, 1946. Dr. J. Horacio Yanzon was appointed the first Filipino Red Cross manager in December 1946, with thirty-six Red Cross chapters initially set up in the country. On February 14, 1947, PresidentManuel A. Roxas signed theTreaty of Geneva and the Prisoners of War Convention. On March 22, 1947, President Roxas signed Republic Act 95, the PRC charter.
The ICRC approved the recognition of the PRC, and telegraphed First LadyAurora Aragon Quezon, the first PRC chairman, on March 29, 1947. The PRC had an inaugural ceremony on April 15, 1947.
The PRC was admitted as a bona fide member of theLeague of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies on September 17, 1947.
Since 2004, the chairman of the PRC Board of Governors isSenatorRichard J. Gordon. Since 1965, actressRosa Rosal has sat on the Board of Governors. Rosal was awarded in 1999 theRamon Magsaysay Award for Public Service for her activities with the PRC.
In 2009, Republic Act No. 10072 or the Philippine Red Cross Act of 2009, was signed into law by PresidentGloria Macapagal Arroyo. The law is an affirmation of the country's "conformity with the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their additional protocols, and the Statutes of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement", as well as a confirmation of the PRC's stand as a "voluntary, independent and autonomous nongovernmental society auxiliary to the authorities of the Republic of the Philippines in the humanitarian field".
Apart from the apparent change in the organization's name from "Philippine National Red Cross" to "Philippine Red Cross", included in the act's new provisions is the organizations' exemption from real property taxes, direct and indirect taxes, duties and fees that will emerge from its operations and its exclusive importations and purchases.
A list of vehicles presently used.
| Photos | Model | Origin | Type | Number of units | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Hiace |  Japan | Ambulance | 117+ | used in all Philippine Red Cross Chapter | |
| Toyota Land Cruiser LC 78 | Ambulance4X4 | ||||
 | Ford E-250 |  United States | Ambulance | 3 | used in National Headquarters |
| Ford Ranger | United States | Ambulance4X4 | used in all Philippine Red Cross Chapter | ||
| Foton TransVan HR |  China | Ambulance | used in selected Philippine Red Cross Chapter | ||
| Isuzu Elf | Japan | AmbulanceTruck | |||
| Mitsubishi Canter | |||||
| Nissan Urvan | Ambulance | ||||
| Nissan Atlas | AmbulanceTruck |
| Photos | Model | Origin | Type | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hino Ranger | Japan | Light Fire engine | used by Emergency Response Unit | |
| Isuzu Elf | Light Fire engine | |||
| Mitsubishi Fuso | Heavy Fire engine /Water tender | |||
| Mitsubishi Canter | Light Fire engine | |||
| Nissan Safari | Mini Pumper |
| Land Assets | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photos | Model | Origin | Type | Note |
 | LARC-V | United States | Amphibian vehicle | used in National Headquarters |
 | Humvees | United States | Off-road Emergency Vehicles | used in selected Philippine Red Cross Chapter |
| Isuzu NPR | Japan | Disaster response vehicle | used by Emergency Response Unit | |
 | Isuzu SKW 8PD1 | Military rescue truck | for Humanitarian aid purpose | |
Media related toPhilippine Red Cross at Wikimedia Commons| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
