(Eagle News) – The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) continues to help distribute the much needed water to several government hospitals in Metro Manila affected by severe water interruption under the areas covered by Manila Water Company.
PRC has distributed a total of 770,000 liters of water to six government hospitals (Rizal Medical Center- 498,000 liters, Quirino Memorial Medical Center- 96,000 liters, National Kidney Center- 114,000 liters, East Ave Medical Center- 10,000 liters, Mandaluyong City Medical Center- 10,000 liters and National Center for Mental Health- 20,000 liters). Our water tankers distributed water to the Philippine Health Office – 12,000 liters and residents of Brgy, Highway Hills – 10,000 liters in Mandaluyong City.
This was as of 12:00 pm of Saturday, March 16.
The premier humanitarian organization in the country also set up five portable toilets in Rizal Medical Center. Eight PRC water tankers were also deployed to augment the needed water supply to ensure continuous operations of the said government hospitals.
PRC Chairman Senator Richard Gordon said the Philippine Red Cross will continue to assist hospitals that would need assistance to surpass this water crisis that is being felt in the National Capital Region.
Health Secretary Secretary Francisco Duque III himself had called up the PRC chair asking for help after Manila Water cut off the water supply in many areas in the eastern part of Metro Manila.
Rizal Medical Center (RMC) in Pasig was among the hospitals first affected by the Manila Water service interruption due to the water level drop of La Mesa Dam.
Immediately, Gordon said he mobilized two 12-liter and four 10-liter water tankers, which can load up to 64,000 liters of water per batch, to fill the hospital’s 145,000-liter reservoir.
“The problem was formidable. We solved it by providing a pump that can fill the water tanks, which will supply water in the 450-bed hospital. This should help the patients who are vulnerable due to lack of potable and clean water in the facility,” Gordon said.
Gordon said PRC is prioritizing hospitals to ensure that healthcare services will not be interrupted and to avoid health complications, such as sepsis, a type of blood infection.
PRC is planning to acquire more 10,000-liter water tankers to assist other affected hospitals in Metro Manila.
“We are ready to address the needs of the hospitals because we have water tankers that are capable of filling up a high-pressure water system,” Gordon added.
To date, PRC has eight water tankers in Metro Manila, which is part of the 20 water tankers nationwide.
The PRC is also asking the public to assist them in helping the government hospitals in need of water.
-Public can also help –
It said the public can help through donations to the following bank accounts:
Banco De Oro
Account name: Philippine Red Cross
Peso account: 00-4530190938
Dollar account: 10-453-0039482
Swift code: BNORPHMM
Metrobank
Account name: Philippine Red Cross
Peso account: 151-7-15152434-2
Dollar account: 151-2-15100218-2
Swift code: MBTCPHMM
Landbank of the Philippines
Account name: Philippine Red Cross
Account number: 0561-095817
The PRC said that for more information, those interested to help may contact Rizza Genilat (02) 790-2410 or Shervi Corpuz at (02) 790-2413 or +639178348378.