MANDALUYONG CITY  -- To continuously promote voluntary, non-remunerated blood donation and maintain blood adequacy in the country, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) started operations of its first blood collecting unit in Barangay Cabid-an, Sorsogon City on July 13.

Supported by the City Government of Sorsogon and Bloomberry Cultural Foundation Inc., the new PRC blood collecting unit is an initiative of Chairman and CEO Richard Gordon to expand more blood bank facilities for the patients in Sorsogon and nearby provinces to have easy access to the adequate, safe, and quality blood supply to the most vulnerable.

As of July 22, the PRC has 102 blood service facilities, 31 blood centers, and 71 blood collection units/blood stations located in strategic areas nationwide.

“Ang bagong blood collecting unit sa Sorsogon ay isa lamang sa maraming proyekto ng Philippine Red Cross upang mapanatiling sapat ang suplay ng dugo sa ating bansa,” Chairman Gordon said.

Chairman Gordon also encouraged healthy individuals to donate blood amid the increasing dengue cases in some parts of the country as this act saves the lives of the dengue patients as well as promotes the donor’s health.

The new blood collecting unit is open for walk-in blood donors and blood requests from Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. For inquiries, email the PRC Sorsogon Chapter at sorsogon@redcross.org.ph or contact the PRC Blood Call Center which may be reached nationwide by dialing 143. (Philippine Red Cross)