ROXAS City – The local government unit (LGU) of Pontevedra in Capiz Province, thru Municipal Ordinance No. 160, has established the voluntary blood donation program to promote and encourage blood donation in the municipality.
Pontevedra mayor Henry Tumlos has approved the ordinance that recognizes the Philippine Red Cross – Capiz Blood Center as the main blood service facility, designates the town’s Rural Health Unit as the main implementer of the program and creates the Pontevedra Local Blood Council.
It also stipulates the official designation of a Municipal blood donor recruitment officer through an executive order and provision of non-monetary incentives to blood donors and program supporters.
Further, key features of the local legislation also include blood donation as an alternative mode of settlement of fines for violations and the establishment of a Blood Samaritan Program.
The LGU has also appropriated funds for the voluntary blood donation program.
PRC Capiz Blood Donor Recruitment Officer Ketch Armiza said that Pontevedra has been among the top five LGUs in the province for voluntary blood donation in the last two years.
“Currently as of third quarter, a total of 1,107 units of blood or 2.2 percent of Pontevedra’s total population were already collected in a number of bloodletting activities in the municipality,” he added.
Last May, Gov. Fredenil Castro approved Provincial Ordinance No. 377 as the first-ever blood program–related law in the province.
The ordinance grants any official or employee of the Capiz provincial government a one-day leave of absence with pay during the year for donating blood. (PIA Capiz)
