Valenzuela City joins Philippines Red Cross (PRC) in celebration of their 65^th Year Anniversary through an annual mass bloodletting dubbed as “Dugo Ko, Alay Ko, ValenzuelaAKO! Handog para sa mga Valenzuelano.”

PRC Governor and Assistant Treasurer, Mayor WIN Gatchalian led some 124 Valenzuelano and visiting blood donors from civic organizations and PRC chapters in Bulacan blood donors last April 14 at the Valenzuela City Social Hall.

“The importance of bloodletting is often realized only during emergency situations.  We should learn to donate blood more often to secure enough supply and to avoid fatality during emergency situations,” he stressed.

Coinciding with the event is the turnover of the Community Based Disaster Management Equipments donation from Netherlands Red Cross to Barangays Malanday, Coloong, Tagalag, Balangkas and Wawang Polo as beneficiaries of the of the Partners for Resilience Project (PfR).

The equipments which include megaphones, radios, raincoats, rain boots, PRC vests, shovels, pick mattocks, whistles and first aid kits.  “The tools were provided to capacitate these villages in responding to catastrophes,” Project Coordinator, Ms. Margot Steenbergen said.

Partners for Resilience Project aims to make communities less vulnerable to the impact of extreme weather and to invest in adaptation measures to make communities more resilient against the consequences of climate change or the deterioration of ecosystems

Along with India and Indonesia, Philippines is one of the countries in Asia chosen to be the recipient of the project, being one of the worstly affected countries in the world in terms of climate induced disaster risk and environmental degradation. 

Mayor WIN was grateful of the donations, saying “these are ready boost to the City’s disaster risk reduction and management program,” especially since the five barangays in Valenzuela City’s 1^st District are usually flooded during rainy season. 

PRC Valenzuela Chapter Director Elizabeth Chongco Chairman closely monitored the implementation of the project.

PRC Valenzuela Chairperson Ms. Elizabeth Chongco was on top of arranging the activity as part of the month-long celebration of Mayor WIN’s birthday.  She reiterated that PRC’s dictum, “Always First, Always Ready, Always There,” is best-exemplified in the Valenzuela City Chapter which is not only centered in organizing bloodletting activities, but is also dedicated in disaster-based projects and youth development programs.

Gracing the event to personally thank the donors is PRC Chairman Richard “Dick” J, Gordon.

Also showing their support were PRC Secretary General Gwendolyn Pang, 1^st District Representative REX Gatchalian, Santiago City, Isabela Mayor and PRC Vice Chairman Amy Sison, DepEd Valenzuela Schools Division Superintendent, Dr. Flordeliza Mayari, Valenzuela City Chief of Police P/CSUPT Atty. Wilben Mayor, PRC Valenzuela City Chairman for Blood Services, Mr. Domingo Pascual, Lions Club CAMANAVA Chapter, Lions Club of Bulacan, Rotary Club of Valenzuela, members of the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineer Valenzuela Chapter and representatives of Local Government of Balagtas, Bulacan.