PNRC working hard to train volunteers in every Filipino community

January 24, 2012

The Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) is is continue to recruit volunteers for the Red Cross 143 program, which intends to train emergency responders in every village and community throughout the nation. IRIN News reports that the PNRC set out to have 44 volunteers in each of the country's 42,000 villages, and they have already met 60 percent of the goal since the program was launched in 2009.

"The nature of disasters and calamities is that they happen anywhere," PNRC secretary-general Gwendolyn Pang told IRIN. "We need people on the ground to be our eyes and ears. They can give us immediate situation updates as they occur."

Not only is the island nation hit with an average of 20 typhoons each year, there are also 23 active volcanoes in the Philippines, the news source reports. Natural disasters are impossible to prevent, but having a plan can help avoid unnecessary damage and injuries.

Filipino people who are working or studying outside the country can use international phone cards to make calls to the Philippines and check on their loved ones when disasters strike.

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