QUEZON CITY, (PIA) --The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), in partnership with the Junior Chamber International – Manila (JCI-Manila), GMA Kapuso Foundation, Inc. (GMAKFI), and Philippine Red Cross (PRC) conducted a nationwide bloodletting activity in celebration of the World Blood Donor Day on June 14 at the AFP Headquarters.

The activity, aimed at collecting 10,000 blood bags, was simultaneously conducted 20 sites such as in the National Capital Region (NCR), SM City Iloilo in Visayas, and in Davao Medical School Foundation Hospital and Lim Ket Kai Mall/Centrio Ayala in Mindanao.

Mr. Joshua Aragon, Chair of Juan for All Nationwide Bloodletting Project extended his appreciation for the AFP’s participation in the project.

“With the help of the AFP, hopefully, we’ll be able to continue to donate blood and we’ll be able to achieve our goal to give love and save lives. Thank you very much for supporting this program,” he said.

The AFP Health Service Command (AFPHSC) led the extraction team at the AFP Headquarters while Officers, Enlisted Personnel, and Civilian Human Resources participated in the activity as blood donors.

“It is a noble task that the Armed Forces is willing to perform because after all, when we talk about the protection of the people and the state, it is also about saving lives. This is an opportunity for us to show our love to our country, our care to our people, and to value the service that we render to this country,” Civil Relations Service, AFP Deputy Commander and AFP Spokesperson, Col. Medel M Aguilar said.

Philippine Red Cross-Quezon City Chapter, Janice Melody Adolfo also expressed her gratitude for the activity.

“We are looking forward to every 3 or 4 months in a year that we can do this so blood will be available for all of you. The Philippine Red Cross will be always here and our blood bank for the needs of your relatives. We thank you for the partnership,” she said.

With more than 150 participants from the Major Services, General Headquarters & Headquarters Service Command, Joint, Personal and Special and AFP-Wide Service Support Separate Units (AFPWSSUs), a total of 138 blood bags were collected from the General Headquarters which will be stored in the Victoriano Luna Medical Center, Quezon City for the consumption of AFP personnel in need of blood transfusion.

“Mahalaga ang mga ganitong uri ng event upang makapagbigay dugtong sa buhay sa pamamagitan ng pagbabahagi ng dugo. Nagpresenta akong maging parte nito upang makatulong sa mga nangangailangan at kung may susunod pa na mga ganitong event, hindi ako magdadalawang isip na makiisa,” ASN Kennit A Panganiban PN, a Navy Personnel and blood donor said during the activity. (afp/pia-ncr)