The Department of Health Bicol Center for Health Development (DOH Bicol CHD) calls for sustained efforts to ensure that the blood supply in the region is enough, especially during lean months. During the months in the 4th to 1st quarter of every year, there is a limited conduct of Mobile Blood Donation (MBD) in the barangays and communities which comprise the bulk of the blood collection.
Based on the reports generated by the DOH Bicol CHD National Voluntary Blood Services Program (NVBSP) from the quarterly and annual reports submitted by Blood Service Facilities (BSF), in 2022, the number of blood units collected in Bicol Region reached 62,529 which translates to 1% of the regional population (6,248,483), which is the blood donation target.
In 2023, the blood collection increased to 71,674 or 1.14%, surpassing the said regional target (1% of 6,301,591). Of the 71,674 blood units collected, 26,753 came from the Bicol South Luzon Subnational Reference Laboratory (BSL-SNRL) Blood-Center, 39,926 from the Bicol Medical Center, and 4,995 collectively from the 6 provincial chapters of Philippine Red Cross – Bicol Region.
Moreover, DOH Bicol CHD reiterates that the availment of blood and blood products for the blood needs of patients is coordinated from facility to facility and should not be shouldered by patients and/or their relatives.
DOH AO 2025-0045 assigns maximum allowable blood service fees of Php 1800 to whole blood, Php 1500 for packed red blood cells, and Php 1000 for other blood products such as platelet concentrate, fresh frozen plasma, cryoprecipitate and cryosupernate. Blood Service Fee covers the cost for the blood bags, reagents, testing for 5 diseases (HIV, Hepatitis B and C, Malaria and Syphilis) and other screening tests, among others.
Senior citizens and Persons with Disability (PWD) are given a 20% discount upon presenting to the concerned BSF their validated supporting documents.
In the BSL-SNRL Blood Center alone, 15,991 blood units were collected during the 1st semester of 2024, compared to 12,953 blood units collected in the same semester of 2023.
Barring other conditions such as the Mayon eruption and typhoons, this year, Bicol Region is projected to accomplish its target of 1% 2024 PSA population which is 6,351,296.
July of every year is the National Blood Donors Month. To honor and celebrate the heroic and selfless deeds of individuals who share their blood to those who need it most, this year’s theme is “Dalawang Dekadang Bayanihan, nasa Dugo ni Juana at Juan. Salamat blood donors!”.
In light of this, the DOH Bicol CHD urges the public to become voluntary and regular blood donors by participating in the MBDs in their barangays, municipalities and cities or through coordinating with Bicol’s Lead Blood Service Facilities: Bicol South Luzon – Sub National Reference Laboratory (BSL-SNRL) Blood Center and the Bicol Medical Center (BMC) – Bicol Transfusion Science Centre.
In addition, the DOH Bicol CHD in partnership with its various stakeholders, is conducting Mobile Blood Donation activities in strategic locations. The public is urged to visit the official Facebook pages of BSL SNRL and BMC for the schedules of MBD.
(Source: DOH Bicol CHD Press Release)