The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Valenzuela Chapter recently shared its disaster preparedness strategies to visiting representatives of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) thru a skills demonstration at the Valenzuela City Astrodome grounds.

The demonstration of skills and management of emergency situations involving the volunteers at the quickest response possible was participated in by the chapter’s RC143, a corps of volunteers from different barangays in the city who are trained with life-saving skills and are on-call to respond during emergency situations.

The Bonn, Germany-based UNV flew in its Communications Officer, Philip Sen to conduct field studies on volunteerism and other relevant programs in developing countries like the Philippines.

The United Nations Volunteers programme is the UN organization that “contributes to peace and development through volunteerism worldwide,” its website said.

“Valenzuela City was chosen as a subject of the UNV study because to its strong volunteerism programs spearheaded by the PRC Valenzuela Chapter in partnership with the local government and the private sector,” chapter chairman Elizabeth Chongco revealed.

“Because of these alliances, public service becomes everybody’s concern and everyone stands to benefit from it,” she added.

In 2010, the PRC Valenzuela Chapter was named as “Chapter of the Year” for Category A due to its excellent implementation of programs and management of resources.

The United Nations is observing this year the 10^th anniversary of the International Year of Volunteers  (IVY+10) that seeks to strengthen its global advocacies and gather broader participation in bringing development.

Speaking at the sidelights of the skills demo, IVY+10 coordinator for the UNV Manila office Addie Unsi shared, “the UN body is committed in advocating for volunteerism, integrating volunteerism in development and mobilizing volunteers for peace and development.”

Also present at the event was John Ryan Largo, founder of Human Development Organization, an NGO, and Red Cross officials.