Senator Richard Gordon on Monday leads the inauguration of the 3rd blood center of the Philippine National Red Cross Bulacan Chapter at the San Rafael Government Center.
Gordon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Philippine Red Cross said the opening of this blood center will make it easier for Bulakenyos to obtain the necessary blood supply especially those from the 3rd District of the province
“This means that the people from the towns of San Rafael, San Ildefonso, San Miguel, Doña Remedios Trinidad, Angat and Norzagaray do not have to travel to the City of Malolos anymore,” Gordon said.
The blood center was specifically placed on the third floor of Ricardo Silverio Sr. Building within the grounds of San Rafael Government Center in Barangay Sampaloc of the said town.
The building was built by the San Rafael Municipal Government for P3.6 million with the assistance of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). The Philippine Red Cross Blood Center will join other offices of various government agencies in this said building.
According to Ricardo A. Villacorte, administrator of the Philippine Red Cross-Bulacan Chapter, the chapter has entered into a usufruct agreement with the San Rafael Government.
“Under the agreement, the government of the Philippine Red Cross-Bulacan Chapter will be free to use the facility for 25 years,” Villacorte said.
It has state-of-the-art blood refrigeration that can hold up to 300 bags of different types of blood.
Senator Gordon emphasized that this would ensure a specific blood supply every 24 hours. This is to rescue Dengue patients, involved in accidents and other serious illnesses that require blood transfusions.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Red Cross’ fourth blood center in the town of Marilao is set to open in the next months after having such facilities in San Rafael, Baliwag and Malolos.