Over 1,308 frontline volunteers of the Virac municipal government in its 63 barangays are now serving the people in their various capacities as members of the Philippine Red Cross.
The administration of Mayor Samuel Laynes enrolled the workers in the PRC Membership program late last year, with the following coverage: 551 Barangay Tanods, 459 Barangay Health Workers (BHWd), 194 Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS), 53 Barangay Service Point Officers (BSPOs) and 51 Child Development Workers.
It may be recalled that Mayor Laynes, during his first term as local chief executive in 2016, through a Sangguniang Bayan resolution sponsored by Councilor Virgilio Candelaria, granted an annual Philippine Red Cross Membership with Accident Assistance Benefit to each Barangay Tanod, Barangay Health Workers, Barangay Nutrition Scholars, Barangay Service Point Officers and Child Development Workers (formerly Day Care Workers) in the whole municipality of Virac.
The PRC Membership with Accident Assistance Benefit (MAAB) Program is the flagship fund-raising program of the Philippine Red Cross which aims to make every Filipino Citizen a member of the Philippine Red Cross.
The Philippine Red Cross, being a non-government, non-profit organization, relies solely on donations of generous citizens to sustain its operations and provide essential services to the most vulnerable in times of emergencies and disasters.
Laynes’ concern for the frontline workers in the barangays prompted the Philippine Red Cross – Catanduanes Chapter’s Board of Directors on its regular meeting last June 20, 2024 to pass a resolution commending the Virac LGU and the leadership of Mayor Laynes.
Meanwhile, the PRC Catanduanes Chapter will be conducting the IHL Run on August 17, 2024 in commemoration of the International Humanitarian Law Month.
In 1999, the Office of the President issued Executive Order (EO) 134 declaring August 12 as the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Day to commemorate the signing of the 1949 Geneva Conventions. The Philippine Red Cross took a step further by designating the whole month of August as IHL Month.
The physical fitness activity, which will be run for a distance of five (5) kilometers, has a registration fee of P600.00 inclusive of race singlet and race bib.
Those interested may contact the PRC Catanduanes headquarters at the EBMC Compound, San Isidro Village, Virac, and its Facebook page.