The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)—through the Strategic Alliance and Environmental Partnership Division of the Strategic Communication and Initiatives Service (SCIS) and the DENR Association of Career Executives (ACE)—conducted a blood donation activity as part of its commitment to help save the lives of patients facing illnesses and injuries.
“The conduct of this annual bloodletting activity and the overwhelming response of employees show the compassion of the DENR family to the community, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic,” OIC Secretary Jim Sampulna said during the blood donation program held at the DENR Central Office in Quezon City on February 21.
In partnership with the Pediatric Blood Center of the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC), the DENR was able to register 140 employees from its various offices, bureaus, and attached agencies for the event.
Seventy-two percent or 101 individuals were able to successfully donate blood. This is the second highest record since 2016 when there were 128 donors out of 140 volunteers.
The bloodletting event has been an annual activity of the DENR and PCMC since 2011 when the project was initiated due to the need for medical assistance, particularly blood donations for DENR employees, their relatives and PCMC patients 15 years old and below.
The annual bloodletting activity is part of the Compassion Project of the DENR ACE for DENR employees and stakeholders to imbibe the core principles in valuing people, to give high regard for their work and the organization, as well as to help augment the supply of safe blood for the PCMC’s blood bank.
It also increases awareness on the importance of blood donation to prevent diseases of the heart, liver and brain.
According to DENR Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and International Affairs and ACE president Atty. Jonas R. Leones, “blood donation is one of the most gratifying forms of service.”
“DENR ACE is grateful to all who volunteered. Every drop of blood is priceless and their selfless act will go a long way to save lives,” Leones said.
The participation of DENR ACE is one of the keys in maximizing the mobilization of volunteers who participated in the event considering the risk and hazard brought by the COVID-19. ###
