Navotas welcomed the launching of the Type ng Bayan, a free blood typing program spearheaded by the Duterte Cabinet Spouses Association.
A total of 694 Navoteños had their blood types determined during the event, including Mayor John Rey Tiangco. Of the total, 332 were O+, 145 were A+, one was A-, 180 were B+, and 36 were AB+.
In his speech, Tiangco expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to make Navotas constituents aware of the importance of knowing their blood type.
He said the Type ng Bayan also helped Navoteños determine who among their neighbors could serve as blood donors and fostered the spirit of “bayanihan,” especially during emergencies.
“There is no dearth of good men or women. Given the opportunity, many of us would like to lend a hand to help others, especially if a situation is an emergency or could mean someone’s life,” Tiangco said.
He noted that dengue cases have increased over the past few years, and so is the need for blood transfusions.
“While there is no dearth of good men and women willing to help, there is scant knowledge among Filipinos about their blood type, thus hindering them from reaching out to patients in need and vice versa,” he said.
“This is why we in Navotas are happy to welcome the launching of Type ng Bayan blood typing program,” he added.
The mayor mentioned that Navotas has been a consistent Sandugo Masigasig Awardee from 2002 to 2006, and a Hall of Famer in 2007 and 2008.
The Sandugo Masigasig Award is given by the Department of Health and the Philippine Red Cross to institutions or organizations that conducted the most number of bloodletting activities.
Tiangco said Navotas held around 25 mobile blood donations annually during those years.
The DCSA also turned over 100 blood typing kits to the city government, which the latter may use to cascade the program to the barangays.
Together with the Metro Manila Mayors Spouses Foundation, the Department of Health, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the DCSA sought to consolidate a blood type database for all Filipinos and ensure easy access to blood needed for transfusion through the Type ng Bayan program.