Phil Red Cross operation center to rise in Bogo City

CEBU, Philippines - In its aim to help more people in the community, volunteer-humanitarian organization Philippine Red Cross will set up an operation center in northern Cebu, one of the areas severely affected by super typhoon Yolanda in 2013.

The operation center, which will have a blood bank, will soon rise in Bogo City that will serve as the organization's rescue and response hub.

PRC chairman and chief executive officer, Senator Richard "Dick" Gordon, led the groundbreaking ce-remony yesterday at a lot within Bogo City's new City Hall compound.

In order to establish more rescue stations and blood services across the country, Gordon said the organization has to be ambitious, but the team has to work hard in order to achieve its mission to alleviate human suffering.

Construction of the operation center will start this month and will run for six months. It is expected to be fully operational next year.

The project's cost is expected to reach P13 million, with P2.3 million will be allotted for the establishment of the blood bank on the ground floor of the building, while regular offices and training rooms will be located on the other floors.

"After the construction, I want to see a vibrant community. If the facility will not be used wisely, then the people may lose on realizing its purpose. The challenge is to make sure to have (a pack of) volunteers," Gordon told the audience during the ceremonial groundbreaking.

He disclosed that apart from the center in Bogo City, construction is ongoing for another operation center in Mandaue City and PRC is also eyeing an additional center for southern Cebu to be based in Carcar City.

Bogo City Mayor Carlo Jose Martinez expressed excitement as the city becomes the center for rescue operations in the north.

"Almost three years since (the onslaught of Yolanda), the City of Bogo was able to rehabilitate and move on and now is very much progressive. With our own rescue station, in case of any emergency, we are now ready," he said.

Carlo's father, former Bogo City mayor Celestino Martinez, Jr., assured that emergency response services in Bogo City will also reach neighboring towns in northern Cebu.

The establishment of the operation center with its own blood bank was a brainchild project of the former mayor. Celestino, the project's proponent, thought rescue operations should not only be centered in Cebu City.

"We should disperse disaster operations," he stressed.

Lawyer Allan Nicolas Ouano, chairman of PRC-Cebu Chapter, said PRC vows to think beyond the boundaries in order to extend its services in the pro-vince.  (FREEMAN)