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BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Sunday, March 5, 2017
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ILOILO City – The League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) Iloilo urged local government units (LGUs) to enhance their blood donation program.
“The LMP is supportive of the program’s institutionalization,” said Ajuy town’s Mayor Jett Rojas, president of LMP-Iloilo.
Not all the towns in Iloilo province have regular bloodletting activities.
“We encourage members to improve the program. At the end of the day, this is for our constituents’ benefit,” said Rojas.
According to the Philippine Red Cross, keeping its Western Visayas Regional Blood Center well-stocked with blood is a constant challenge. It seeks the support of LGUs.
Red Cross data showed that in 2016, less than one percent of Iloilo’s population donated blood.
The province has a population of 1,972,958. Red Cross would have wanted 19,730 Ilonggos – or at least one percent of the population – to become blood donors.
Last year, however, only 3,765 or 0.19 percent of the total population of the province donated blood, according to Red Cross.
Also, none of the 43 local government units in the province was able to reach the one percent blood donor target.
Meanwhile, some LGUs like Passi City and Zarraga have opted to partner with the Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) for their blood donation drives. Rojas said local chief executives have the discretion.
“Tan-awon naton kun diin ang mas bentaha,” said Rojas.
In a previous interview, Passi’s Mayor Jesry Palmares said they partnered were WVMC five times last year.
From 2012 to 2014 Passi City coordinated with Red Cross but the local government found it easier with WVMC, said Palmares.
“Sa Western accessible gid katama ang pagkuha sang dugo, wala sang damo proseso bala,” said Palmares.
Mayor John Tarrosa of Zarraga agreed with Palmares. “Didto ya sa WVMC, every time gakinahanglan kami blood, readily available,” he said./PN
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