Munti revives blood council

To provide adequate supply of safe blood in the community, the Muntinlupa City government, led by Mayor Jaime Fresnedi, has revived its local blood council called the Muntinlupa Blood Council (MBC).

Fresnedi, chair of the MBC, encouraged the people to voluntarily donate blood.

The mayor said there are priceless benefits in donating blood apart from being a healthy practice because lives will also be saved. Fresnedi’s history of blood donating activity earned him the Galloneer Award from the National Voluntary Blood Services Program (NVBSP) back when he was still vice mayor of the city.

Vice chairman of the MBC is Vice Mayor Jo Jason Alcaraz with members from the following sectors: education, religion, civic organizations, business, police, barangay, Ospital ng Muntinlupa, youth, cooperative, media, community affairs, private and government groups.

Fresnedi said the establishment of the local blood council is necessary to promote voluntary blood donation in the city since the National Blood Services Act of 1994 banned the operation of the commercial blood banks and deemed donating blood for a fee as illegal.

The mayor said the MBC will strengthen the linkages among blood service facilities and related institutions in accordance with zoning and affiliation procedures of the NVBSP.

He said that apart from disseminating the importance of donating blood in the community, the council will select, recruit and organize mass blood donation in the target areas.