LAGAWE, IFUGAO – – The Philippine Red Cross (PRC)-Ifugao Chapter is to launch more meaningful, pro-people and pro-poor projects in 2018 after a recent chapter assembly program highlighted by the election of board directors.
Officers, members and guests have bonded together to snowball their support toward accelerating the noteworthy programs, projects and activities of the chapter. They also sought to propel the chapter to greater heights next year and beyond.
The PRC-Ifugao Chapter is one of the most active organizations in this part of the province. It has the distinction of providing wide ranging services to the people of Ifugao.
Former governor and lawyer Eugene Balitang topped the polls. Other directors are Board Member Robert Mangyao, Provincial Planning and Development Officer Carmelita Buyuccan, Lagawe Multi-purpose Development Cooperative (LMDC) general manager Charles Balachawe, Board Member Noli Maguiwe, civic leader May Ann Bahiwag, Kiangan Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer Mario Indopia, Dr. Joseph Bulayungan, pharmacist and educator Letty Ngipol and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI)-Ifugao Chapter president and Ifugao Global Entreprenuers Multi-purpose Cooperative (IGEMCO) general manager Godfrey Dominong.
The top five directors-elect are to serve a term of four years. The others have a tenure of two years. There were 22 aspirants in the closely-contested polls. A recount of the votes for the tenth slot even took place. Five spoiled ballots were recorded.
Florame Magalong graced the occasion as its keynote speaker. Nueva Vizcaya Chapter administrator Randy Blanco also attended. Others in attendance were members of the Don Bosco High School Senior Red Cross Youth, military and Philippine National Police (PNP) officers, led by Police Superintendent Randall Bueno. The well-attended program was held at the Provincial Engineering Office Building in Lagawe.
As a major organization, the PRC-Ifugao Chapter shares the unique expression in transcending the inevitable effects of disaster and calamities,” Board Member James Frederick Dulnuan said.
In an exclusive interview with the ZigZag Weekly, Board Member Dulnuan stressed the importance of all-out support by the government on the PRC’s initiatives, motioning that “blood supplies are clearly principal tools for saving lives in emergency situations and even at normal times.”
Dulnuan chairs the committee on education and public information, which has been conducting regularly campaign to disseminate key information on the PRC’s mission to the public. He hails from Banaue.
For his part, Dominong underscored the need to strengthen linkages between the PRC, other nongovernment organizations (NGOs), people’s organizations (POs) and civil society organizations (CSOs) in the private sector and the public sector.
“The Red Cross is where I would get the blood supply if I’m in need of one. What I plan to do is that we (board directors) consult periodically the people on their needs and wants,” he said.
“I’m interested to look after and safeguard their welfare,” he added.
“We stand ready with our support. We must bear in mind that a human being’s life is so important, so it is fundamentally a 24/7 effort,” Dominong quipped.
The PRC offers a large variety of assistance such as first aid training. It also conducts blood-letting activities.
The PRC-Ifugao Chapter is headed by Cherry Mae Barrio.
“Our activity on this historic day also underscores the dynamic alliance we have forged with key leaders in the public and private sectors throughout the years as we look towards the provision of better services and build on our shared passion for helping the poor, sick and needy, said Cherry Mae Barrio, a pillar of the PRC in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
Strong partnership between the PRC-Ifugao Chapter officers and newly-elected directors would indeed result to greater efficiency in the office’s operations. This is indeed good for the province and its residents. There should be no argument whatsoever on this truth and reality.
Overall, the PRC-Ifugao Chapter has achieved most of its goals for 2017. Its funds that are meant for acquisition of blood supplies are used and generally dissipated. They go to a worthwhile cause.
It is for this reason that Ms. Barrio is just serious in elevating the chapter’s service folio a notch higher by 2018. She is, of course, just being consistent.
In the Philippines, many lives of Filipinos were lost due to lack of available of blood for transfusion. Thus, blood-letting activities are no small efforts of the PRC.
The PRC-Ifugao Chapter is presently hampered by limited resources and personnel. Personnel and even volunteers are far less effective since they are underequipped and mobility is difficult because there is no ambulance and an emergency response unit vehicle. Given these limitations, the men and women of the office have to be creative and hardworking to overcome obstacles along their way. Nonetheless, it is still the principal instrument in bringing timely, effective and compassionate humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable in the province. Ifugao is still one of the poorest provinces in the Philippines.
For now and for one, all eyes are focused on the soon-to-be installed board directors. Their place in the history of the PRC-Ifugao Chapter will ultimately depend upon whether their actions are deemed necessary and desirable.
Prior to the polls, Mrs. Buyuccan held the position of Board of Directors Chairman. She has helped to stimulate greater interest in the PRC-Ifugao Chapter through her well-pronounced advocacy of the PRC’s encompassing and far-reaching vision and mission.
The then PRC was formed in 1947. It is a member of the International Red Cross. Sen. Richard Gordon is chairman of the PRC.
In a related development, an officer of the PRC-Ifugao Chapter said that membership is open to the public. Membership types include classic, bronze, silver, gold, platinum, senior and senior plus. Accidental assistance benefits are provided to members.
A blood-letting activity has also been scheduled in the province this Christmas season. **By Anthony A. Araos
