The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) on Sunday urged the public to donate blood following Makati Medical Center’s declaration of a red alert due to critically low blood supplies.
MakatiMed said each blood donation can help up to three patients, including accident victims, surgical patients, and those with cancer or chronic illnesses.
Donating blood also benefits donors by regulating iron levels and stimulating the production of new blood cells, the hospital added.
The hospital’s blood bank, located on the second floor of Tower 2, is open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
“Let’s give the gift of life as we usher in the new year,” MakatiMed said, while the PRC stressed that blood cannot be manufactured and can only come from voluntary donors.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health reported 1,113 road crash injuries from December 21, 2025, to January 2, 2026, an 82-percent increase from the same period last year.
Nearly half of the cases involved drivers aged 15 to 29, while 87 percent of those injured were not using safety equipment such as helmets or seatbelts.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “Public urged to donate blood, save lives”
