The Philippines joined the international community in celebrating the World Blood Donor Day with the theme, “Be There for Someone Else. Give Blood. Share Life,” last Thursday at the Muntinlupa Sports Complex in Tunasan.
A program was held at the complex following a motorcade and a mobile blood donation activity.
The Department of Health announced that it has finally realized its goal of collecting one million blood units from the total population after the enactment of National Blood Services Act two decades ago.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III emphasized in his message, delivered by DoH-NCR Regional Director Dr. Corazon Flores: “The Department of Health continues to promote the regular, year-round blood donation to save lives. We are immensely grateful to the blood donors for their voluntary and sincere effort to be of help to those in need.”
Other officials attending the program include Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi, Rep. Ruffy Biazon, Philippines Blood Coordinating Council president Dr. Gary Ong, Philippine Red Cross secretary general Atty. Oscar Palabyab, Blood Galloners Club president Col. Joel Torregoza, among others.
This year’s celebration was hosted by the City Government of Muntinlupa as a model local government on voluntary blood donation in the country.
Muntinlupa was among pioneering LGUs that championed voluntary blood donation. It started the implementation of its National Voluntary Blood Services Program in November 1998 and has established its Muntinlupa Blood Council on 2001.
The city’s blood services program was recognized by the DoH and given the Jose Rizal Award on 2015 and 2017, the agency’s highest citation in the Dugong Bayani Awards, and the Andres Bonifacio Award on 2016 and 2017.
Fresnedi vowed to continue his support in the implementation of NVBSP and encouraged residents to participate in mobile blood donation activities in the city. Fresnedi is a “blood galloner” and a National Sandugo Hall of Fame Awardee for Outstanding Local Chief Executive.
The World Blood Donor Day was organized by the Department of Health in partnership with the World Health Organization, Philippine Red Cross, Philippine Blood Coordinating Council, Dugong Pinoy Association Inc., Blood Galloners Club, Muntinlupa Blood Council, and Muntinlupa LGU.