Red Cross 143 Teams organized in P’que schools

To help promote safety awareness in schools and the community in general; continuously improve disaster preparedness; and further build calamity response capabilities, the Parañaque Branch of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Rizal Chapter, in association with the UPS Foundation; the City Government of Parañaque; and the Dept. of Education Division of Parañaque City Schools organized Red Cross 143 teams in public schools in the city.
 
     Over one thousand public school teachers from 31 schools in Paranaque City were sworn in as Red Cross 143 volunteers on Saturday, February 11, 2012 at the PAGCOR Theater. The 1,105 teacher-volunteers will undergo a series of safety and disaster preparedness training organized by PRC Parañaque Branch-Rizal Chapter. 
 
     Leading the induction ceremony, PRC National Chairman Richard J. Gordon urge Red Cross 143 volunteers to commit themselves to assist the community especially in the event of calamities…to be the first to prepare, first to know, first to report, first to respond, and first to provide relief, recovery, and rehabilitation in the event of any disaster that will strike in the city or anywhere they may be.
 
     Philippine Red Cross Rizal Chapter Paranaque City Branch received a ($43,892) grant from the UPS Foundation, a charitable arm of the United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS). The almost two million pesos grant will be used for the training of Red Cross 143 volunteers in the city’s 16 Barangays and 31 public elementary and high schools in Paranaque City. Through said UPS assistance, the PRC will also equip the RC 143 teams with the tools necessary in disaster preparedness, health and welfare.
 
      PRC Rizal Chapter Parañaque Branch Board of Directors is composed of City Mayor Florencio Bernabe, Jr. (Honorary Chairman); Dir. Anson Ong (Chairman); Dir. Peter Dee (Vice-Chairman) Dir. Marilyn Bautista (Treasurer); Board Directors Amalia Sahagun, Gracia Saguin, Leslie Mata, Emmanuel Gatmaitan, Abundio Punzalan, Jr., Ma. Estrellita Arceo, Arlene Besa-Carabeo, Yolanda Arandia, Mary Jane Reynoso, Angelito Mendoza and Councilor Benjo Bernabe; and Ex-officio Directors ABC Pres. Teodoro Virata, Jr., SK Federation Pres. Camille Manansala, City Administrator Atty. Nelson de Jesus, City Health Officer Dr. Olga Virtusio, Planning Officer Engr. Benigno Rivera, Parañaque DSWD Chief Dean Calleja, Public Information Officer Lloyd Palconan, Parañaque Police Chief P/Sr. Billy Beltran, Fire Chief F/Sr. Supt. Manuel Manuel, 302nd Bn PA CO Lt. Col. Mayo Mira, and DepEd Div. Superintendent Joel San Luis. PRC Parañaque Branch sa pamamahala ng Branch Administrator na si Jennifer De Guzman sa ilalim ng pamumuno ni Rizal Chapter Administrator Geraldine Repollo.