Red Cross dispatches 600 volunteers to assist in cemeteries

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) will dispatch more than 600 volunteers, ambulance and Emergency Response Units (ERU) to cemeteries and memorial parks nationwide starting today for the observance of the All Saint’s Day and All Soul’s Day this weekend to ensure immediate response in case of emergencies.

PNRC chairman Sen. Richard Gordon said these would be augmented by roving teams from the PNRC’s National Headquarters Safety Services and volunteer groups.

“The PNRC volunteers and ERU have medical equipment and first aid kits for those who will encounter heat stroke, minor wounds, hypertension, and other illnesses,” Gordon said.

The PNRC Rizal chapter will be at the Heritage Park in Taguig City, Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City and Garden of Memories in Pateros, while the Las Piñas sub-chapter will monitor the situation at the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery and Golden Haven Memorial Park.

Red Cross Manila chapter volunteers will be deployed at the R. Papa street gate of La Loma Cemetery and at the North and South Cemeteries while the Pasay City chapter will be at the Sgt. Mariano Cemetery.

PNRC volunteers will also be fielded at the Himlayang Pilipino Memorial Park in Tandang Sora and Holy Cross Memorial Park and Bagbag Cemeteries in Novaliches, Quezon City.

Ten cemeteries will be monitored by the Valenzuela chapter while the Malabon chapter will check on Tugatog Cemetery.

PNRC will also have ERU teams in key cities and municipalities like San Pablo City, Laguna; Batangas; San Miguel, Bulacan; Gapan, Nueva Ecija; Sta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya; Dagupan City, Pangasinan; Abra; and Legaspi City, Albay.

Meantime, the Ecological Waste Coalition (EcoWaste), which campaigns for a zero-waste Philippines, yesterday urged the public to reduce the use of plastic bottled water during the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

This as Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza called for a garbage-free All Saints’ Day with hundreds of Filipinos expected to flock to cemeteries to pay homage to their departed loved ones.

“All Saints Day or Undas is a time to cherish the memories of our departed loved ones. But as we fondly remember them with prayers, let us also remember our responsibility to the environment,” Atienza said.

EcoWaste said they expect a surge in the purchase and disposal of water and beverages in plastic bottles this weekend.

“But unknown to many, the uncontrolled consumption of bottled water is polluting and warming the planet,” said Manny Calonzo, president of EcoWaste.

Calonzo said that the rise in demand for plastic bottled drinks means increased production and transportation of plastic bottles. These processes, he pointed out, consume lots of energy from polluting, non-renewable sources, and eventually add to the country’s waste disposal problems.

The environment group urged Filipino consumers to reduce their waste volume and carbon footprint by refraining from buying bottled water and instead fill reusable containers with clean tap water or with filtered or boiled water for drinking.

Uninterrupted electric service

The Manila Electric Co. yesterday assured its customers that the company is ready to implement measures to ensure uninterrupted electric service before and during All Saints day tomorrow.

“We advise cemetery administrators to tighten their security with regards to the appliances the people may bring,” Meralco Corporate Communications head Elpi Cuna said.

“We discourage people from bringing their own electrical appliances, such as television, radio, electric fan, coffee maker, water heater and the like, which when used simultaneously may cause the cemetery’s electric system to overload, leading to power outages,” he said.

The company also said it would not tolerate any form of electricity pilferage like hooking up these appliances directly to the electrical lines and facilities of Meralco. – With Katherine Adraneda, Donnabelle Gatdula