KORONADAL CITY — The city government has launched a subsidy program that allows residents here to avail of free blood processing services with the Philippine Red Cross (PRC).
Dr. Jean Genevieve Aturdido, city health officer, said on Wednesday the subsidy scheme waives the processing fees in the withdrawal of blood supplies from the blood center here of the PRC.
Aturdido said the initiative was based on the provisions of Ordinance No. 07 authored by City Councilor Annabelle Pingoy setting the institutionalization of the mass blood donation program in the city.
Under the program, she said residents may avail of the subsidy by joining the monthly blood donation activities of their barangays.
Aturdido said the barangay councils would be required to submit a list of certified volunteer blood donors in their respective areas to the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO).
She said the CSWDO will then issue identification cards entitling donors of the subsidy when they avail of the PRC’s blood services.
“This is to encourage our barangays and residents to actively conduct monthly blood donation activities,” she said.
Aturdido said the local government allocated some P500,000 through its second supplemental budget for the initial rollout of the program, which is also dubbed “Dugo Mo, Kabuhi Ko” (Your blood, My life).
“Mayor Peter Miguel committed to provide augmentation funding for the program if needed later on,” she said.
Miguel, who is a doctor, earlier endorsed the passage of the ordinance and the provision of the subsidy to ensure the availability of enough supply of quality blood in the city. (PNA)
