A proposed ordinance pushing for voluntary blood donation, instead of penalties or fines for violators of city traffic laws, was authored by Bacolod City Councilor El Cid Familiaran.
Familiaran said worldwide, the scarcity of blood has been noticed not just by foreign countries or by their health providers, but likewise by the International Red Cross. According to the councilor, such serious concern has been identified when dengue illness hit the country, and one of the places included was the city of Bacolod. This resulted in the shortage of blood in hospitals that are based in the city, whereby the cost of blood went up inaccessibly for a great number of people which in turn contributed to the cause of death of many poor patients, particularly the children, the councilor said. Familiaran added that the shortage of blood has been validated when no less than Philippine National Red Cross Secretary-General Gwendolyn Pang stated that last 2013, blood collection fell short of what was needed. This, quoted the local legislator, is considering that out of 950,000 units of blood which the country needs, PNRC only collected 440,000 units of blood, representing just 49.6 percent of the nation’s badly needed blood. He cited the global theme, “More Blood, More Life!” for the “World Blood Day” celebration last June 14, 2013 which was also adopted by the Department of Health when it observed the National Voluntary Blood Donation Month last July 2013. Familiaran explained that while there are Red Cross and other blood banks at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital and in private hospitals, blood remains to be a major concern of the city. He said that to address this major perennial health problem, measures that would generate more blood are most needed. Familiaran also pointed out further that Republic Act No. 7719, “An Act Promoting Voluntary Blood Donation, Providing for an Adequate Supply of Safe Blood, Regulating Blood Banks, and Providing Penalties for Violation Thereof,” has been passed by Congress to institutionalize and ensure an adequate supply of blood. And among the measures that are considered to generate additional blood for patients is to recognize the voluntary donation of blood by traffic violators in lieu of the mandated fine./WDJ By Ranie S. Azue Watchmen Daily Journal
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