ILOILO CITY — Persons with disability (PWDs) in Iloilo province are believed to be the first to conduct massive blood donation in the country.
This was after the February 12 blood donation activity organized by the Iloilo Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (Iloilo PSWDO) and the Philippine Red Cross-Iloilo Chapter.

According to Rara Ganzon of the Iloilo PSWDO, the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) certified that only the PWDs in Iloilo were able to donate blood as a group.
Despite the hindrances of being PWDs, the blood donors saw themselves as responsible citizens who also have to help others.
One of those is wheelchair-bound Angeline from Tubungan. She said that fellow PWDs should not be embarrassed of their situation, especially if they can still help out in society.
The blood donation from Iloilo’s PWDs are meant to bolster the blood supply of the Philippine Red Cross.
Dr. Catherine Javellana of the Philippine Red Cross emphasized it is important to have enough blood supply, especially as the COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing.
The blood bank of the Philippine Red Cross is at a critical level. For January 2022, there were 1,400 blood units collected. In comparison to the same period of 2019, there were 2,000 blood units.
Philippine Red Cross-Iloilo Chapter Administrator Gilbert Paul Valderrama reiterated that more blood donors are needed to keep up the needed supply for medical emergencies.