Clean up, sanitation drive in QC, Marikina evacuation centers

PNRC WATER BLADDER. Senator Richard J. Gordon, chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), joins evacuees in drinking water from the water bladder set-up by the PNRC at H. Bautista Elementary School in Marikina evacuation center. Gordon said, with the water bladder, evacuees can be assured that the water is safe for drinking. The water bladder can hold 10,000 liters of potable water. Several water bladders will also be set-up in other evacuation centers.

As he stressed that cleanliness and sanitation should be maintained in the centers to prevent the outbreak of diseases. Senator Richard J. Gordon ( Ind. ) has spearheaded a clean up drive in evacuation centers in Quezon City (QC) and Marikina.

Gordon, chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), led Red Cross volunteers from as far as Olongapo, in going to four elementary schools in QC and Marikina that were converted into temporary shelters for residents who were rendered homeless by tropical storm “Ondoy.” Students from FEU, PCCR and UP as well as 16016 and Pinoy volunteers were deployed.

“You must strive to maintain cleanliness and sanitation even while you are staying at these evacuation centers. You do not want to live in dirty and stinking surroundings, do you? Since you are sheltered here, you should keep the school buildings and its grounds clean,” he said.

“Outbreaks of diseases, such as cholera, are feared in evacuation centers because of the lack of sufficient facilities like comfort rooms. But if we keep the evacuation centers clean, we can prevent outbreaks,” he added.

Evacuation centers that Gordon and the Red Cross volunteers visited included the Macapagal Elementary School in Tatalon, QC; Benitez Elementary school in Sta. Lucia, QC; Nangka Elementary School in Marikina , and; H. Bautista Elementary School in Marikina .

Gordon and his group initiated clean up drives in the said evacuation centers. They also distributed relief goods in Macapagal, Benitez and Nangka. He also had Alma Laza, a stroke victim sheltered in Nangka, carried out and brought to a hospital in Batangas.

The volunteers cleared the grounds of debris left by the flood and removed the build up of mud with water provided by fire trucks from PNRC and Olongapo. They also placed garbage plastics in every room.

Gordon placed ten portable toilets or portalets in H. Bautista and committed to set up ten each in nine other evacuation centers. Bert Lina of Air Freight 2100, donated 100 portalets.

Also in H. Bautista, the senator watched closely as volunteers of the Red Cross and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) set up a water bladder that can hold 10,000 liters of water. He will visit other evacuation centers and will assess their need so the Red Cross can set up water bladders in the centers.

“With the water bladder, you can be assured that the water is safe for drinking,” Gordon said. (30/lap)