486 blood bags collected in donation drive of GMA Kapuso Foundation, Philippine Red Cross

A total of 485 blood bags were collected by GMA Kapuso Foundation and the Philippine Red Cross under the Sagip Dugtong Buhay Bloodletting Project. 

According to "24 Oras" on Monday, the blood bags were collected during the blood donation drives held at the GMA Network headquarters in Quezon City and the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City. 

The blood bags will be donated to earthquake victims in Cebu and Davao Oriental after some hospitals appealed for blood donations to help treat victims following the quakes. 

A total of 55 individuals were injured from the 6.9-magnitude earthquake in Cebu, while 176 were injured from the magnitude 7.4 and magnitude 6.8 doublet earthquakes in Davao Oriental, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) as of October 24. 

"Nagkakaroon sila ng shortage po, sa Cebu, 'yung hospital na naapektuhan, so kailangan natin na mag-collect lang nang mag-collect ng blood," said Red Cross Baguio Chapter Officer-in-Charge  Jennylyn Terre. 

The GMA Kapuso Foundation held a Kapuso Bloodletting Day at the GMA Network headquarters with the PRC and GMA Network's Corporate Affairs and Communications office to help collect blood for those in need. 

Among those who donated blood was Kapuso video journalist Francis Epino. 

"Sa pagdodonate na 'to makakatulong sa mga nasalanta ng lindol, para sa kanila talaga 'to. Proud ako na isa ako sa mga nag-donate ngayon," said Epino. 

"Mapupunta ito sa repository ng Philippine Red Cross for quake victims in Cebu and Davao," said GMA Kapuso Foundation EVP & COO Rikki Escudero-Catibog. "They're here at nag-donate sila ng dugo when they have duty. Talagang it's a sacrifice on their part." 

The GMA Kapuso Foundation also held a blood donation drive at the Philippine Military Academy in Bagio City, where hundreds of cadets donated blood. 

"We are very grateful na itong partnership natin is on its fifth year. Actually, it's not just a partnership but, more importantly, it's a continuing collaboration," said PMA Superintendent VADM Caesar Bernard Valencia PN. 

For those who wish to support GMA Kapuso Foundation's projects, donations may be made via Metrobank, Land Bank, BDO, Bank of Commerce, UnionBank, PNB, Cebuana Lhuillier, GCash, Lazada, and Shopee. Visit the GMA Kapuso Foundation website for more information.

—CDC, GMA Integrated News