CALAMBA CITY (PIA) -- The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and the City Government of Santa Rosa are bringing the organization’s humanitarian services closer to South Luzon following the groundbreaking ceremony of the new PRC Blood Center in Barangay Tagapo last October 27.
With the help of the new Blood Center, PRC Laguna Chair Jaime Ching said blood services from their organization will be more accessible to residents from the province's first district.
“Ang mga pasyente ang kinakailangan ng mga donor para sa kanilang mga pangangailangan. Kaya ang pasilidad na blood bank ay malaki ang maitutulong upang makakuha ng dugo,” Ching said, expressing his gratitude to the city government for its efforts in bringing blood services closer to the people.
Santa Rosa City Mayor Arlene Arcillas said the city government allotted around P30 million for the construction of the main building.
“I am happy that again, Santa Rosa will be a home to another institution that will benefit not only the people of Santa Rosa but also our neighboring cities as well,” Arcillas said of the project.
Aside from the blood center facility, the city government also received an emergency response vehicle from Isuzu Motors Philippines to help the PRC deliver its humanitarian services in the city and its neighbors.
Upon its completion, Philippine Red Cross Secretary General Elizabeth Zavalla said the Santa Rosa City Blood Center is the 90th facility of its kind in the country.
Zavalla clarified, “This is the 90th (Blood Center), although mayroon pang expansions sa ibang lugar. Ang aming bilang ay kung alin ang mauunang matapos,”
[This is the 90th (Blood Center), although there are also expansions in other areas. In our count, we also consider which [construction projects] finish first.]
Aside from the Santa Rosa facility, expansions are underway in other parts of the country such as the National Capital Region, Bulacan, and Sorsogon.
With the new facility in the works, Arcillas said the city government will ramp up its blood letting campaigns to encourage their constituents to donate blood in their facilities.
Once operational, the new Blood Center is poised to help ensure sufficient blood supply not only in Santa Rosa but also its neighboring areas in Laguna province. (PB)
