VIGAN CITY, June 23 (PIA) – The national and local government gear up in conducting blood donation drives and encourage Filipino people to donate blood and save a life.
 
Marites Estrella, program manager of the National Voluntary Blood Services Program, said bayanihan in blood donation or ‘dugo-yanihan’ spirit is still there – and getting stronger, to save lives.
 
“We continue to provide blood all over the country. We transport it, fly from one region to another in order for people to have access to safe blood supply,” Estrella said.
 
She likewise emphasized, especially to those who are having second thoughts to donate, that blood donation facilities are safe.
 
“Even during pandemic and during disasters, we are still there getting blood from our volunteer blood donors. We want to emphasize that our facilities are safe to donate blood,” she added.
 
In Ilocos Sur, the provincial government recently conducted a bloodletting activity in celebration of the World Blood Donation Day on June 14.
 

A total of 140 bags were collected mostly from uniformed personnel of the Ilocos Sur Police Provincial Office, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and Bureau of Fire Protection, as well as some personnel of the Provincial Capitol.
 
Moreover, the city government of Candon conducted its quarterly bloodletting activity on June 15.
 
They collected a total of 104 bags.
 
Prior to these, uniformed personnel of the Army’s 71st Infantry Battalion (IB) conducted the 2nd simultaneous blood donation activity held in all units under the Army’s 7th Infantry Division, in partnership with Ilocos Sur Provincial Hospital- Gabriela Silang and Rural Health Unit of Lidlidda, Ilocos Sur, in line with the 124th Philippine Independence Day celebration on June 12.
 

A total of 70 bags were collected from the activity which was participated by personnel of Lidlidda Municipal Police Station and Bureau of Fire Protection, Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC)  cadets, and reservists under the 102nd Community Defense Center, troops of 71st IB, and other stakeholders. (JCR/AMB/JMCQ, PIA Ilocos Sur)