The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) on Wednesday, Oct. 27, led the groundbreaking ceremony of the new PRC Blood Bank that will soon rise in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
The PRC blood bank will serve the entire city and nearby cities such as Binan and San Pedro, Laguna, with a total population of 1,148, 250 as of 2020.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended virtually by PRC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Senator Dick Gordon, PRC Secretary General Elizabeth Zavalla, City Mayor Hon. Arlene Arcillas, Chairman of the Laguna Chapter Dir. Jaime B. Ching, Chapter Administrator Frank Gray Sorromero, and Isuzu Philippines Corporation President Hajime Koso.
“Ako ay nagpapasalamat sa ating local government unit, donors, Board of Directors, staff, at volunteers sa inyong dedikasyon upang masimulan itong blood bank facility (I am grateful to our local government unit, donors, Board of Directors, staff, and volunteers for your dedication to start this blood bank facility),” Gordon said.
Through the blood bank, Gordon said that PRC can help more people who need blood.
“Mapapabilis din ang paghahatid ng services gaya ng blood services, disaster response, recovery, psychosocial first aid amongst others (It will also speed up the delivery of services such as blood services, disaster response, recovery, psychosocial first aid amongst others),” he added.
PRC Laguna Chapter dispensed 71,640 units of blood from 2019 to September 2021.
The soon-to-be-constructed blood bank will increase the chapter’s capacity to serve more individuals who need blood.
More than blood, the PRC Laguna Chapter started various initiatives to combat coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The PRC Laguna Chapter collected more than 5,995 saliva specimens in its saliva collection sites since opening in February 2021.
The chapter also vaccinated more than 16,255 individuals in its Bakuna Centers and Bakuna Bus through the support of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC.)
The PRC Laguna Chapter continues to deliver its humanitarian services to alleviate human suffering and uplift the dignity of the most vulnerable community of Laguna.
Meanwhile, Gordon assured that the PRC will continue to fulfill its mantra which is “to be always first, always ready, and always there” whenever and wherever help is needed.