Red Cross, DepEd prepare for elections

THE Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and the Department of Education (DepEd) have sent the green light in preparation for the first automated elections on Monday.

PRC Secretary General Gwendolyn Pang said the National Headquarters has already coordinated with all of its chapters nationwide for the Election Preparedness Campaign, wherein 11,000 volunteers will be mobilized.

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The PRC said volunteers will be deployed in every polling precinct according to its population, so that its team’s strength on each particular site can be adjusted accordingly.

With that, the PRC said it will provide three major services, namely: the first aid services, the health services, and the welfare services.

“We are basically ready to face the challenges that can possibly transpire from this upcoming election,” Pang said.

First aid services consisted of professionally trained “first aiders” who will give immediate remedy in times of unexpected health emergencies. Aside from that, it is also under the team’s area of responsibility to transport patients to the nearest hospital if deemed necessary.

Health services, meanwhile, include setting-up of help desks in strategic areas near the polling precincts. With this, people can avail of the following services: blood pressure examination and assistance to elderly and pregnant women who need special care.

Other than common health-related concerns, PRC will be providing a welfare desk in order to cater the needs of people who are in search for missing loved ones, guidance and counseling, stress debriefing and referrals to provide comfort towards distressed persons on the lookout.

“As always, our Operation Center will be on stand-by to coordinate possible calls for back-up from our different chapters nationwide. The voting public can rest assured that Red Cross will be doing its best to keep them safe this coming national election,” added Pang.

Last month, the PRC reported that a total of 328 patients were given first aid and blood pressure check-up during the Holy Week (March 31 to April 4).

As this developed, the DepEd also activated a list of hotline numbers and e-mail addresses for teachers, DepEd personnel and other groups who wanted to direct election-related concerns. These are:

* Primary Hotline Numbers

(02)- 633-72-59; 638-86-36; 633-72-47; 637-49-33; 631-84-91; 636-49-96; 635-05-51 (Fax number)

* E-mail addresses
depedtaskforce@yahoo.com; fcsunga@deped.gov.ph (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)