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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Metro Manila devider PCS marks 89th foundation anniversary with National Stop the Bleed Day, bloodletting drive

PCS marks 89th foundation anniversary with National Stop the Bleed Day, bloodletting drive

Published Sep 11, 2025 04:31 pm
Present during the event at the PCS building in Quezon City were PCS Committee on Trauma Chair Dr. Jorge Concepcion, Disaster Management Service, PRC Pangasinan Chapter chairperson Maybeline Fernandez, and PCS Past President Dr. Vivencio Jose Villafor. (Screenshot/PCS facebook page)
Present during the event at the PCS building in Quezon City were PCS Committee on Trauma Chair Dr. Jorge Concepcion, Disaster Management Service, PRC Pangasinan Chapter chairperson Maybeline Fernandez, and PCS Past President Dr. Vivencio Jose Villafor. (Screenshot/PCS facebook page)
The Philippine College of Surgeons (PCS) celebrated its 89th founding anniversary on Thursday, September 11,  with a life-saving initiative that combined the 3rd National Stop the Bleed Day and the 2nd nationwide bloodletting activity.
The event was held in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and supported by the Department of Health (DOH).
Present during the event at the PCS building in Quezon City were PCS Committee on Trauma Chair Dr. Jorge Concepcion, PCS Past President Dr. Vivencio Jose Villafor, and Disaster Management Service, PRC Pangasinan Chapter Chairperson Maybeline Fernandez. 
DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa underscored the importance of empowering ordinary Filipinos with practical life-saving skills.
He recalled a case of a young motorcycle crash victim in Cavite, whose friends used their shirts as improvised bandages to stop the bleeding.
“That simple act bought him precious minutes, enough to reach the hospital and survive,” Herbosa said.
“Every day across the country, lives hang in the balance in those first few minutes after an accident. Stop the Bleed empowers Filipinos to act decisively and prevent tragedy before professional care arrives,” he added.
Herbosa also highlighted that road crashes remain a major public health threat, claiming more than 12,000 Filipino lives in 2022 alone. As part of the DOH’s 8-Point Action Agenda, he stressed the need to strengthen road safety measures, trauma care systems, and community readiness.
“Prevention is our first line of defense,” he said, citing DOH’s investments in trauma centers, a national emergency medical service system, and surveillance programs to improve response and recovery for trauma patients.
Meanwhile, PRC Secretary General Dr. Gwendolyn T. Pang reaffirmed the Red Cross’ strong partnership with PCS, which has been active since 2012.
“When you stop the bleed, you save lives. When you donate blood, you save lives. That is the common denominator of this initiative,” Pang said.
She noted that uncontrolled bleeding is responsible for 40% of trauma-related deaths worldwide, with many occurring within minutes.
For this reason, she stressed that bystanders — not only doctors or nurses — must be trained to act.
“Emergencies can happen anywhere — at home, in schools, at work, or on the road. If bystanders are trained, confident, and willing, they can make the difference between life and death,” Pang added.
Pang also pointed out that the bloodletting drive plays a critical role in supporting hospitals nationwide, particularly for surgeries and emergency procedures that demand a steady blood supply.
As the PCS marks nearly nine decades of service, both the DOH and PRC expressed their commitment to strengthening collaborations that save lives — whether by empowering citizens to control bleeding in emergencies or ensuring hospitals never run short of blood for critical care.
“Each life saved brings us closer to a safer nation,” Herbosa said.
The celebration also featured a simultaneous nationwide bloodletting drive across different PCS chapters and PRC offices, aimed at replenishing the country’s blood supply to meet the demands of hospitals, particularly for surgeries and emergency procedures.

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