THE Baguio City Council has approved on third and final reading a proposed ordinance establishing barangay blood banks in the city.
Under the ordinance authored by Councilors Michael Lawana, Betty Lourdes Tabanda, Levy Lloyd Orcales, Benny Bomogao and Maria Mylen Victoria G. Yaranon, barangays in the city would have barangay blood councils composed of the punong barangay, the chairman of the Committee on Health, and five members drawn from various sectors in the barangay.
The councils are mandated by the ordinance to conduct regular blood-letting or blood donation activities in the barangay as well as barangay level information and education campaigns on voluntary blood donation.
The ordinance also provides that all barangays be provided information and education on blood donation prior to the conduct of any bloodletting, and stipulates that priority for access to blood deposits would be provided to residents but non-residents may access as long as the blood is replaced afterward.
The ordinance also stipulates that the amount of P100,000 shall be appropriated under the non-office item, particularly the support to national offices, that will be lodged with the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC), of the 2023 annual budget to cover the various activities related to this program.
The annual budget will be under the City Mayor’s Office.
