Update as of February 2021: MORE Power Blood Donation Drive. The demand for blood supply for hospitals in the City and Province of Iloilo never stops, demanding a continued campaign for blood donations, especially in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic.
This was emphasized by Gilbert Paul Valderrama, administrator of the Philippines Red Cross (PRC) Iloilo Chapter, even as he appealed to all eligible donors to help support the PRC’s blood donation campaign. “The need for more blood supply is always present but with this raging pandemic, there is more reason for us to stress out how important every drop of blood that goes to the PRC blood bank contributed by our donors,” he said.
Beginning in 2020, PRC-Iloilo has recorded a sudden shortfall of 3,000 to 5,000 units of blood from the previous years due to the Covid-19 pandemic as local government units canceled their blood donation drives since local officials were embedded in battling the spread of the disease in their respective areas. “But what we do is to campaign even harder.
“We really have to innovate to generate more so we can support the much-needed supply of the hospitals in the city of Iloilo as well as the need of district hospitals all over the province,” Valderrama noted.
But despite the sudden drop of donated blood all over the country due to the pandemic, Valderrama was still hopeful that everything will go back to normal.
“Although we had a sudden drop since the pandemic, I am very grateful because Iloilo Chapter still came on top all over the country in terms of number of units collected notwitstanding Covid and this is a testament of the support of the community. What we only did is to launch massive campaigns, but the people who responded to our campaigns should be given the compliments,” he pointed out.
Valderrama said it is the blood donors coming from various organizations and companies, including the LGUs which reactivated their drive in support of the PRC for us to have a sufficient supply of blood at all times because hospitals depend on us for their blood requirements.
“Notwithstanding their fears, we are seeing a lot of organizations and corporations along with the LGUs stepping up to our call for us to be more capable to supply the much-needed blood for our hospitals,”he said, adding “We have to remember that Red Cross cannot give what it doesn’t have, which means that for every unit that we supply to our hospitals, comes from a donor who offered not only his blood but “also his time and effort to help save the lives of others.”
“Behind a strong Red Cross is a strong community and for a chapter like us to be successful needs a very strong and very vibrant community behind. That is why we are so thankful for all the donors, that because of them we have a strong Red Cross here in Iloilo,” he said.
“In fact on Monday, February 8, we have a scheduled blood-letting activity to be hosted by MORE Power. Without the involvement of companies like MORE and the other donor organizations such as radio stations, religious groups, business groups, and even fraternity groups, we won’t be able to overcome the need for a more blood supply in the city and province of Iloilo,” Valderrama said, underscoring “In all our efforts, the key-point really is the community, so I hope that in the near future we will be seeing more of MORE Power.”
Sarah Diana Habacon, human resource manager of MORE Power, said the blood-letting campaign is part of the month-long activities lined up by the company in celebration of the 2nd year anniversary of its franchise as well as its 1st year of operation.
It was on February 14, 2019, when President Duterte signed into law Republic Act 11212 that gave MORE Power to the franchise to distribute power in Iloilo City and the right to acquire the assets of PECO. But it was only on February 29, 2020, after winning the legal battle with PECO, that MORE Power was able to start its operations.
“Since the approval of our franchise falls on the love month as well as the start of our operations, we have lined up a series of activities for this month and these activities will kick off with our blood-letting activity on the 8th,” she said.
Habacon said around 80 employees are going to join the activity with the addition of donors from their third party contractors. “These donors are composed of MORE Power staff including line warriors, security and utility personnel together with the employees of our contractors who volunteered to also join the bloodletting drive,” she said. “In fact, MORE Power is going to have it as part of our yearly activity and we will do it two times a year,” she adds.
Update as of December 2022: MORE Power Initiates Blood Donation Drive: More Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power Iloilo), for the third time, initiates a blood donation drive with the theme, “Save a Life, Share Yours”, in collaboration with the Philippine Red Cross. It is the company’s way of showing its commitment and concern for the welfare of the Ilonggos – not solely on providing quality power distribution services but on the community’s overall well-being. The utility was able to gather 30 bags from volunteer employees who participated in the day-long activity.
“Halimbawa may nagakinahanglan sang bulig, daku gid nga bulig maka donate kami sang dugo sir. Kung baga makahatag kami sang extension sa isa ka tawo,” states Security Officer Jiji Fuentez, adding that he was able to reap the benefits of blood letting, health-wise.
Moreover, Corporate Planning and Regulatory Manager Rafael Dorilag encourages the public to join the cause:
“Naga donate kita para kabulig man sa kapwa Ilonggo para ma sustain man nila ila medical needs kag mga needs man sa bag o nga dugo. For a personal reason, ang pagdonate dugo nagabulig man sya para ma replenish atun nga dugo kag maka ayo man ini sa aton nga wellness,” says Dorilag.
Philippine Red Cross Medical Officer Alvin John Abaobao thanked MORE Power and its employees for fostering the spirit of volunteerism.
“Madamu gid nga salamat sa MORE Power sa pag invite sa REDCROSS for this bloodletting successful event. These blood bags will be used by their fellow Ilonggos nga nagakinahanglan dugo and also with these activities, continuous support, makabulig gid kita sa future nga nagakinahanglan sang dugo,” says Ababao.
Update as of December 2022: MORE Aids Community. For three (3) consecutive years now, since MORE Electric and Power Corporation started its operation as the distribution utility of Iloilo City, the company once again pulled its extra resources together to support ten (10) institutions in Iloilo City that are also helping others in the spirit of charity and community. The ten (10) institutions that received assistance from the company are the following:
- Asilo de Molo, Inc.
- Philippine Red Cross-Iloilo Chapter
- Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish Clinic of St. Clements Church
- Colegio de San Jose
- Jaro Archdiocesan Social Center
- Iloilo Two Hearts Foundation
- Friend of Cancer Kids Iloilo Foundation, Inc.
- Assumption Iloilo Educational Foundation
- Carmelite Sisters
- Philippine Action for Community-Led Shelter Initiatives Inc. (PACSI)
- (Thru: Homeless People’s Federation Philippines, Inc. Iloilo City)
“We are always very happy whenever you visit us here every Christmas to show that you remember us and then bring us your gifts so we can also make others happy. For three years already, we are very happy that you have been very generous to us. I think not only us here but all those institutions that need your help. We pray that you will prosper in your endeavors, and we are always praying for your workers. We are assuring you of our prayers,” said Sister Josephine A. Aldep of the Carmelite Missionary sisters.
Friends of Cancer Kids Iloilo Foundation, Inc is also very thankful of the assistance that the company has extended. According to Ms. Janice Luce Jimenez of FOCC, “this is a big help sa amon foundation to continue our mission in helping children, because we survive on the generosity of companies and individuals like you, because we don’t have a real source of income, so for us to continue our mission dako gid ini nga bulig, dako dako gid, kay kun imaginon mo, if we buy one cup of coffee sa starbucks that could be a fare sang isa ka bata para makakadto siya sa hospital. So imaginon mo with the financial aid given to us kun pila ka kabataan ang maka continue sang ila nga chemo nila biskan sa plete na lang nila kag makakadto sila sa Hospital”.
It is really in the company’s way of doing business, to set aside a portion of its resources where it will create the most impact by helping others. MORE Power is very pleased and more than glad to help and be of assistance to these institutions. (Via MORE Power Iloilo Facebook Page)
