The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) solidifies its commitment to deliver safe, quality, and adequate blood supply to Filipinos as it launched more blood service facilities outside Metro Manila.

In line with the celebration of the 2019 World Blood Donors Day (WBDD), PRC Chairman Richard Gordon announced that the organization opened new blood collection units/blood stations in Albay, Bogo, Mountain Province, and Calamba.

This year’s WBDD celebration carries the theme “Safe Blood for All,” a call to expand access to safe and quality blood and the crucial role of voluntary blood donation in the Universal Health Care.

“In PRC, we aim to create more blood banks and blood centers for accessibility of blood supply. We want to reach the most vulnerable communities in the rural areas in our country to ensure that there is SAFE BLOOD FOR ALL,” Gordon said in a press conference last June 10.

The humanitarian organization currently has 93 blood service facilities, including 27 blood centers, 66 blood collecting units/blood stations, and 11 apheresis centers.

This year, PRC eyes new blood facilities in San Carlos in Pangasinan, San Rafael and Bocaue in Bulacan, Imus and Bacoor in Cavite, and Romblon.

PRC appeals to the public to help save lives by regularly donating blood.

“Mahalaga ang ating mga blood donors. Everyone should try and encourage everyone to donate blood dahil araw-araw ay libu-libong tao ang nangangailangan ng dugo sa buong bansa. Everyday should be World Blood Donor’s Day,” Gordon said.

PRC, as a major provider of blood needs in the country, served a total of 205,772 individuals in 2018.

PRC’s National Blood Center also earned the international standard on quality management systems (ISO 9001:2015, making PRC the first blood center in Southeast Asia and the only non-hospital blood service facility in the Philippines to receive the certification.