Rizal gov’t forms Blood Council

PROVINCIAL Capitol, Antipolo, Rizal – In order to actively participate in the voluntary and non-profit collection of blood and effectively implement the local voluntary blood services program pursuant to the provisions of R.A. 7719, otherwise known as the “National Blood Service Act,” the provincial government of Rizal convened recently all stakeholders in the public and private sectors to organize the Rizal Provincial Blood Council.

Elected as co-chair of Rizal Gov. Jun Ynares was the local chapter of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), assisted by the Provincial Health Office (PHO) as vice-chair. Other institutions and agencies chosen to comprise the Executive Board of the local blood council were the University of Rizal System (URS) as Treasurer, local chapter of PAMET as Auditor and Department of Education (DepEd)-Rizal Division as P.R.O. Meanwhile, the Executive Board appointed PRC- Rizal Chapter assistant administrator Butch Sison as its Secretary.

In the same board meeting, the Provincial Information Office (PIO) was tasked to head the committee on public education, the local Tau Gamma Phi and Angono Lifesavers in the committee on donor and recruitment as co-chairs, while the local Alpha Phi Omega (APO) chaired the committee on ways and means.

Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Rizal board member Genato Bernardo who chairs the committee on health and social services reported that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan supports the creation of the Provincial Blood Council and they are now studying the feasibility of establishing a blood bank in the province.

Resource persons from the Center for Health Development (CHD) of the Department of Health (DOH)- Calabarzon region guided the stakeholders in the organization of the Blood Council and gave orientation on maternal neonatal child health and nutrition, including the national voluntary blood services program and blood collection report of the province for the period 2009-2010.

It would be recalled that the provincial government of Rizal, spearheaded by Gov. Jun Ynares who is a doctor by profession, has received several recognitions for its blood donation and services program. In addition, this move will give access to more readily-available blood to Rizaleños who will be in need of supply in emergency medical cases.