Event Details

Super Typhoon Rai (Odette) slammed into the Eastern Philippines on 16 December, decimating homes, wiping out water and electricity supplies, and destroying agricultural and tourism-related livelihoods.


10.8 million people are affected.*


The typhoon hit in the middle of the world's worst pandemic in living memory. As well as coping with the rising threat of COVID-19, typhoon-hit communities face health risks due to unclean drinking water and damaged or destroyed health care facilities. Almost 9.5 million people no longer have a roof over their heads. Hundreds of thousands of people remain without electricity and access to basic amenities and food.


Philippine Red Cross has been working alongside authorities and other agencies since the typhoon hit and has already reached hundreds of thousands of people with clean water, hot meals, healthcare, toolkits, building materials, household items, and clothing.


But more resources are urgently needed to continue to meet people's immediate and recovery needs. You can help.


The Nordic Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (NordCham Philippines), Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), together with other supporting organizations, invite you to an event on 22 February 2022 from 3:00 PM - 4:20 PM.


NordCham Philippines, PRC and IFRC have come together to brief the NordCham members and partners' community about the situation, needs, and the emergency appeal to support people in affected communities, in dire need of help.


* DSWD DROMIC Report #79 on Typhoon "ODETTE" as of 10 February 2022, 6PM



Agenda


2:45 PM Zoom room opens


3:00 PM Welcome Remarks and Introduction of Keynote Speaker


Jesper Svenningsen

Executive Director

NordCham Philippines


3:05 PM Presentations


Alberto Bocanegra

Head of Delegation

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies – Philippines


Senator Richard J. Gordon

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Philippine Red Cross


Eric Salve

Manager of Volunteer Services

Philippine Red Cross


3:45 PM Q & A


4:15 PM Closing Remarks


Jesper Svenningsen

Executive Director

NordCham Philippines


4:20 PM End of Event



This event is free to attend. You may send in your questions when you register.


The event is supported by the Royal Danish Embassy Manila, Embassy of Finland Manila, Royal Norwegian Embassy Manila, Embassy of Sweden Manila, Advantage Austria, British Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (BCCP), Dutch Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (DCCP), French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the Philippines (CCI France), European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GPCCI), Global Compact Network Philippines, Makati Business Club, Philippine-Swiss Business Council (PSBC), and Spanish Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (La Camara).

Speakers

Richard J. Gordon 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer 

Philippine Red Cross


The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Richard J. Gordon, concurrently a member of the Philippine Senate, is well-known all throughout his public service record for being an action man and for beating great odds in a disaster-prone country.


In the 1980's as Mayor, he transformed Olongapo's "Sin City" image into a model city by engaging an active citizenry in solving crime, ensuring police accountability, improving garbage collection, health and sanitation and orderly public transport and traffic in a community that hosted the largest American military facility outside the continental United States. In the 1990's he led the transformation of Subic Naval Base after the departure of the American Navy, inspiring 8,000 volunteers who preserved the US$8-billion facility and making it the Philippines' premier free port and special economic zone. From 2001 to 2004 as Philippine Tourism Secretary, he turned around a moribund industry shaken by threats of terrorism after 9-11 and the fear of SARS disease. In doing so gained the respect of his peers internationally, who elected him World Tourism Organization Commissioner for East Asia and the Pacific in 2002 and Chair of the Pacific Asia Travel Association in 2003, becoming the chief advocate of Third World countries affected by unfair travel advisories by Western governments.


Consistently guiding him for more than 40 years of public service are the principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement imbibed early on when he became a volunteer after his mother, recipient of the highest PRC award, the Gold Humanitarian Cross and Pearl S. Buck award, founded the Red Cross chapter in Olongapo City. Today, she remains Chairperson of the said chapter. Gordon's daughter, Marnie, is a "galloner" RH-negative Type O blood donor. His son, Brian, an Olongapo city councilor, sits on the Board of the chapter. His spouse, Kate, was honorary chapter chairperson during her three terms as mayor. Belonging to a Red Cross family is more than semantics for Richard Gordon.

On many occasions, Gordon led rescue, relief and rehabilitation operations around the Philippines, such as the 1987 sinking of the M/V Asuncion off Palawan island after colliding with another sea vessel where he adopted one of the survivors orphaned by the tragedy taking her under his care and sending her to school. Lilibeth Acar is now a practicing Physical Therapist.


The 1990 killer earthquake that hit Luzon where he lead a joint Philippine and American civilian and military rescue effort in the collapsed Central College of the Philippines in Cabanatuan City as well as the rescue of thousands of college students stranded in the mountain city of Baguio to be reunited with their parents. Among the victims turned hero at Cabanatuan was Rodrigo Robiso whom he employed at City Hall and is now happily raising his own family in Olongapo.


Gordon's preparation and readiness also saw him sending trained and equipped volunteers to disasters and accidents such as engineers and electricians to Negros Island in the Visayas that was rendered without electric power for weeks by super-typhoon Didang in 1989. By providing body bags for sanitation and quick identification, he brought dignity to the thousands who died and closure and comfort to their families during the killer floods in Ormoc City in 1991. He sent fully equipped professional divers to recover drowned religious devotes from the fluvial parade sinking of vessels in Bulacan in 1993.


The many eruptions of the very active Mt. Mayon saw Gordon's foresight at rescue, relief as well as rehabilitation of the thousands of families in towns of the Bicol region when he brought water tankers to the area such that local government leaders thereat requested that the volunteer operators and water tankers remain to sustain service of potable drinking water to the various refugee camps until they completely recovered from the eruption.


In 1991, disaster struck closer to home with the eruption of the century of long-dormant Mt. Pinatubo. Gordon's leadership helped save thousands of lives by evacuating city residents and 9,000 indigenous tribe people from the flanks of the volcano just days before the big blast. His quick action of assigning patient tags saved the lives of the latter refugees by filling the communication gap with volunteer doctors at refugee centers. His efforts revived the city, driven by volunteerism and self-help.


Gordon is always quick to help. In the middle of a presentation before prospective investors at Subic Freeport, after learning from an aide of a call for help over the radio, he immediately led a team with a fully equipped crash rescue truck that he recently purchased for the Freeport to dig out survivors and bodies from the rubble of the collapsed Guzman Tech Building in Manila in 1994.


Dick Gordon's work is well known to many of us. His effectiveness as a leader and a mover of people has been recognized and heralded through the various awards he has received ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM), the Outstanding Filipino (TOFIL), the University of the Philippines'Most Outstanding Alumnus in Public Service, and three years later, its Most Distinguished Alumnus, the highest award that could be bestowed by the UP Law Alumni Association. More recently, Dick Gordon was also awarded the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency's Lifetime National Volunteer Achievement Award, the sole recipient of the award in 2015. Gordon's achievements in the 48 years that he has been active in the Philippine Red Cross have also been recognized, having been awarded the three highest awards from the Red Cross, namely the Aurora Aragon Quezon Medal, the Silver Humanitarian Service Cross Award, and the Gold Humanitarian Service Cross Award. Dick Gordon was also a recipient of the Japanese Red Cross Gold Humanitarian Award. He also received recognition from various foreign media such as Asiaweek's Twenty Great Asians of the Future and Asahi Shimbun's 50 Young Leaders of Asia, among others.


Finally, he is a lawyer by profession but has also been, at various times, a broadcaster, a businessman, a lecturer, and an inspirational speaker. He graduated from the UP College of law, and holds a bachelor's degree in history and government from Ateneo de Manila University.

Elizabeth S. Zavalla

Secretary-General (SG)

Philippine Red Cross


Elizabeth S. Zavalla currently serves as the Secretary-General (SG) of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), responsible for the management, administration, and operations of the PRC. She oversees all PRC activities and their regular and special programs.


Before being appointed as Secretary-General, SG Zavalla was the Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) for Program Development and Services since 2014. She ensures the efficient management of PRC programs and service delivery to the most vulnerable families affected by disasters and emergencies. Known for multi-tasking, she also coordinates PRC's special projects. Prior to being ASG, she was Head of Special Projects of the Office of the Chairman from 2010-2014.


Before joining PRC, SG Zavalla had a long history of public service. She started her career as Economist for the Olongapo City Planning and Development Office (1980-1981) and later became its Acting CPDC (1983-1984) and finally, full-pledged Coordinator (1985-1986 and 1988-2004). SG also served as a volunteer staff of Richard J. Gordon when the latter became Chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (1992-2008). She also actively participated in hosting preparations for the 1996 APEC Summit in Subic Bay. From 1995 to 2004, she was appointed as Acting City Administrator, in concurrent capacity, assisting in the coordination of the work of all the departments under the direction of the Chief Executive. In 2004, SG Zavalla served as Director for the Office of Senator Gordon and handled the development and social projects of the office, and did coordination works with various agencies and individuals as necessary.


SG Zavalla continues to steer the program development of PRC services particularly in the areas of Blood, Safety, Disaster Management, Health, WASH, Welfare, Volunteer Services, and Red Cross Youth. With the PRC Tower, PRC's acquisition of its Humanitarian Ship-the M/V PRC Amazing Grace, 150 ambulance units, vehicles, heavy equipment, sophisticated tools, chapter buildings, and warehouses all over the country, SG Zavalla's role expands along with her responsibilities. In relation to the "Big One" as well as other man-made and natural disasters, she is fully aware of PRC's evolving role in augmentation to government operations vis-à-vis earthquakes, fires, floods, and clearing needs.


SG Zavalla graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City, where she also took Master of Arts in Urban and Regional Planning.

Alberto Bocanegra

Head of Delegation

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies – Philippines


Alberto Bocanegra is a national of Spain, born in Seville in 1975, and has worked for the past 17 years in Africa, Europe as well as the Middle East and North Africa, and Asia managing large and complex humanitarian operations in countries in conflict and post-conflict, such as Syria, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Niger among others. With IFRC, he has served as Operations Coordinator for West Africa, Head of Delegation for Niger, acting Head of Cluster for West Africa, and acting Head of Delegation and Programs Coordinator for IFRC Delegation in Greece. In October 2021, he was appointed Head of Delegation for the Philippines.


Alberto holds a B.A. in Public Law from the University of Seville, and has undergone a wide variety of programs and courses: International Executive MBA, Master's Degree in International Cooperation Development, Humanitarian Aid, Postgraduate programs in Project monitoring and evaluation and Human Resources Strategic Planning. Alberto speaks fluently Spanish, English and French, and continues his courses of Arabic.

The Philippine Red Cross

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) is an independent and autonomous non-government organization tasked to help the Philippine government in the humanitarian field and to adhere to the obligations of the Philippines to the Geneva Conventions and International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movements.


On February 14, 1947, the Philippines proclaimed its commitment to adhere to the Geneva Red Cross Convention, which necessitated the creation of a Philippine Red Cross. The creation of this body was fulfilled on March 22, 1947, when Republic Act 95 was signed into law by President Manuel Roxas. Since its creation, the Philippines Red Cross Charter (RA 95) has undergone several changes by virtue of Republic Acts 855 and 6373, and Presidential Decree No. 1264 s. 1977. The original charter and amending laws were eventually repealed in 2010 when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed into law Republic Act 10072, otherwise known as the Philippine Red Cross Act of 2009. RA 10072 currently serves the charter of the Philippine Red Cross.

About IFRC

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world's largest humanitarian network. Our secretariat supports local Red Cross and Red Crescent action in more than 192 countries, bringing together almost 14 million volunteers for the good of humanity.


The IFRC acts before, during and after disasters and health emergencies to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people.


We are an international membership organization that unites 192 Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and supports them through a global secretariat


We are present in virtually every community on earth. We reach 160 million people every year through long-term services, development programmes and disaster response. And we work to improve global humanitarian standards and persuade leaders to act in the interests of vulnerable people.


Our strength lies in our volunteer network, our unparalleled community-based expertise and our independence and neutrality.


We are committed to saving lives and changing minds. And we are guided by Strategy 2030—our collective plan of action to tackle the major humanitarian and development challenges of this decade.


Through our work we enable healthy and safe communities, reduce vulnerabilities, improve people's resilience and promote peace around the world.


Discover more about our mission and learn about our current priorities in our Global Plan 2022.

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