PRC breaks ground for blood bank in Sta. Rosa, Laguna

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) on Wednesday led the groundbreaking ceremony for a two-storey blood bank facility in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

The event was led by PRC Secretary General Elizabeth Zavalla, PRC Laguna Chapter Chairman Dir. Jaime B. Ching, Chapter Administrator Frank Gray M. Sorromero, City Mayor Arlene Arcillas, and Isuzu Philippines Corporation president Hajime Koso.

Zavalla said PRC chairman and Senator Richard Gordon was not able to attend the groundbreaking ceremony as he is preparing for the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on the government procurement of COVID-19 supplies in 2020 scheduled for Thursday.

She explained that the new blood center will be “self-supporting.” This means the blood donation doesn’t need to be tested in a facility in Metro Manila before it can be dispensed to the recipient.

In a separate statement, Gordon thanked the local government unit of Santa Rosa, Board of Directors, the donors, and volunteers for the establishment of the new blood bank faclity.

“Mapapabilis din ang paghahatid ng services gaya ng blood services, disaster response, recovery, psychosocial first aid amongst others,” he said.

(This will expedite the delivery of services such as blood services, disaster response, recovery, psychosocial first aid amongst others.)

Gordon added that the soon-to-be-constructed blood bank will increase the chapter’s capacity to dispense more blood bags.

From 2019 to 2021, he said, the PRC Laguna Chapter was able to provide 71,640 units of blood. — BM, GMA News