Philippine Red Cross, Capitol seal partnership

CEBU, Philippines — The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and the Cebu Provincial Government yesterday signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the Blood Samaritan Program, with an estimated project cost of ?2 million.

The partnership was sealed with Philippine Red Cross (PRC) chairman and CEO Richard Gordon and Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro signing the agreement.

The Blood Samaritan Program is aimed at saving lives by ensuring that indigent patients have access to free and safe blood.

The initiative covers the blood processing fees for poor patients in all government hospitals in Cebu Province in need of transfusion including testing, collection, preparation, and component separation.

Alongside this, the provincial government also turned over a ?1,213,200 check to the PRC for the Safe Card Registration Program, which is expected to benefit at least 1,111 Cebu Province responders.

The PRC’s Safe Card Registration Program has an annual membership fee of ?1,200, where cardholders could gain access to emergency and humanitarian services, including one free ambulance service per year, one unit of whole blood, accident-related hospitalization coverage with a ?200 daily allowance for up to two months, ?10,000 in medical reimbursement, and ?300,000 accident insurance.

“For just ?1,200, you receive so much support from the Red Cross. That is your safety net, your defense in times of need. It is there to help you, to protect you, and to give you peace of mind,” Gordon said in his message, emphasizing that the safe card is a membership effort, not a mere transaction.

Governor Baricuatro lauded the collaboration as a concrete step toward strengthening healthcare and humanitarian services in Cebu.

“When we improve healthcare, we are not only treating sickness, we are giving families peace of mind, children the chance to grow healthy, and communities hope for the future. But no one can do this alone. Collaboration is the key to reaching more people, responding faster, and serving better,” she said.

The PRC also announced it will strengthen its blood supply distribution to all government hospitals in Cebu Province to ensure that life-saving reserves are available where they are needed most.

Gordon, who recalled past humanitarian work in Cebu during calamities like Typhoon Ruby, the Pinatubo eruption, fires, and earthquakes, said the province has always been close to his heart.

Meanwhile, the event also featured the oathtaking of the newly-elected PRC Cebu Chapter Board of Directors during the 2025 Cebu Chapter Assembly officiated by Gordon. They are: Jacqueline Claudine U. Roble, William Acosta, Anton Mari Perdices, Alfred Reyes, Antonio Ynoc, Ronald Po, Christian Paro-an, Bryan Yap, Rodrigo Taneda, Jay Yuvallos, Juan Antonio Bernad, and Kirk Bryan Repollo.

Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival and Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña also graced the occasion. — (FREEMAN)