As part of the public service thrust of the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), the Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS) and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration (OVCFA) held the Annual UPOU Blood Donation drive on 6 April 2018 at the UPOU Oblation Hall, Los Baños. For this year, the UPOU was able to collect 67 bags of blood for the blood donation drive. This figure is 34% higher than the previous year’s collection, and the highest volume of collection since it started in 2012.
The blood donation drive is part of UPOU’s advocacy on voluntary blood donation with the hope of helping the community on its ever increasing blood requirement
This activity was made possible in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross – Laguna Chapter and with various organizations in Los Baños, which made up most of the 93 volunteer blood donors, namely: 4th Regional Community Defense Group-Army Reserve Command (4RCDG ARESCOM), Burning Bush International Ministry, Destiny Los Baños, Gospel Fundamental Baptist Church, Lakas Angkan Ministries Inc., MAKBOYS Adventure Team, Motorcycle Community Organization for Peace and Security/ Great Praetorian Riders Society, Romeo M. Ramirez Transport Services, The UPLB Genetics Society, UPLB College of Development Communication, UPLB Credit and Development Cooperative, UP Community Broadcaster’s Society, Inc., UP Rural High School, UP SIBOL and UP Soil Science Society.
Last year’s blood drive totaled 50 bags, which was able to supply 5 bags of blood to UPOU employees and their relatives needing transfusion. (Emely M. Amoloza, FICS)
