Bloodletting on Pasil / Dagupan hosts PCL

 HAPPY WEEKEND

Gina Dizon

PASIL, Kalinga -- For national Sandugo awardee Pasil Major James Edduba, donating blood is a big help to patients who need blood in emergency situations.  Bloodletting is a regular activity of   Pasil constituents since 2008 in partnership with the Cagayan Valley Medical Center (CVMC) of Tuguegarao City. 

Pasil LGU’s bloodletting program began in 2008 with  50 units (one unit measuring 450 ml/cc  blood per donor) initially collected from  officials, employees and police members  supervised by the LGU leadership and  Municipal Health Officer  Dr  Aldrin Siwao.  

This was followed in 2009 with 57 units donated by the same donors and other constituents. In 2010, blood donations increased to 93 units, 244 units in 2011 with donations from barangay officials and donor volunteers, Administrative Officer Teddy Gullay said. There are 14 barangays of Pasil.  

Edduba said the blood donated forms part of the blood bank administered by CVMC  and readily available to patients who immediately need blood instead of family members or the hospital desperately seeking donors in times of urgent need. Blood transfusion is mostly needed in cases of bleeding, chronic diseases and even cancerous ailments.

Edduba who donated blood twice said, “While helping save lives, donating blood is also good for one’s personal health”.Donating blood helps one reduce high iron content of the blood and risk of attacks. Studies note that bloodletting or phlebotomy is a proven therapy to reduce risk of heart attack and stroke. Edduba encourages people to consider being volunteer blood donors.

Among 172 national awardees and only two in the Cordillera region, Edduba is one with Balbalan mayor Kenneth Dale Mangaong who received the 14rth national Sandugo awards. Mangaoang’s brother Allen Jesse Mangaoang now  Red Cross director and Blood Committee chairman. was a national awardee for two years 2008-2009 when he served as mayor of Balbalan.

The Sandugo outstanding local government executive awards is an initiative of the Department of Health to urge local government executives give their full support to the National Voluntary Blood Service Program. It promotes RA 7719-National Blood Services Act of 1994- which encourages the government, national agencies and private organizations to promote voluntary blood donation. To highlight bloodletting, Blood Donor’s month is specially celebrated every July.

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1st PCL Regional Assembly, Dagupan City. Sangguniang Bayan members of La Paz, Abra 

Public service  in local governance  was emphasized during the First  Regional  Philippine Councilors League ( PCL) Assembly  held  in Dagupan City  August 8-9.

Attended by nearly a hundred legislative officials from the Cordillera region,  the two-day PCL activity highlighted topics on  fund source-based legislation,  awards on local government  unit performance, regional autonomy and baseline values on good governance.

Guest speaker vice mayor  Belen Fernandez  of  Dagupan City  forwarded  the  Golden Rule- do unto others as you would like others do  unto you- as a basic principle  that a  government official  keeps in mind while rendering public service.

She further emphasized  that  values of honesty  follows  in  governance  in not  committing  graft and corruption  to efficiently  be of service to one’s constituents. 

Department of Interior and Local Government  (DILG)  Cordillera regional director John Castaneda  said  that the seal of  good housekeeping  awarded to  deserving local government units  is premised on  efficient performance and  non-record of corruption. 

Department of Budget  Cordillera regional director Liza Fangsilat identified  priority development  funds of lawmakers  and  shares from  mining  taxes as potential sources of local funds, aside  from the regular internal revenue allotment.

In the same occasion, Baguio City  mayor and Third Autonomy Act Drafting  Committee chairman Mauricio Domogan   said  a regional autonomy status for the Cordillera means having regional administration and monetary support for economic  development.  He said the plebiscite for  House Bill 5595 and Senate Bill 3115 establishing  a Cordillera autonomous  region is projected to be  done during the May 2013 national elections. 

PCL regional  chairman Emilio Kitongan urged  members of the  councilors’  league to regularly  attend organizational activities as these  will aid in the provision of  service to respective  constituents.  Activities include training-seminars and medical missions.