Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman on Monday lauded the partnership between the public and private sectors to collect blood.

Aligned with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Bagong Pilipinas agenda, the bloodletting drive emphasizes the importance of community support for those in need, especially during emergencies.

“When schools, government agencies, organizations, and individuals come together with a shared purpose, we create a real impact,” Pangandaman said in her message at the Dugtong Buhay Movement joint bloodletting activity held at STI West Negros University here.

Dugtong Buhay Movement, a nationwide blood donation advocacy founded and headed by Pangandaman, is comprised of the Department of Budget and Management, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), academic institutions, and other stakeholders, in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross (PRC).

“Our movement is a great example of how collaboration can lead to meaningful and lifesaving results. This initiative shows that by pooling our efforts, no matter how big or small, we can address urgent needs in our communities, like the continuous demand for safe and adequate blood supply,” Pangandaman said.

At the STI West Negros University, at least 362 bags of blood were donated by students, employees, and government uniformed personnel.

She noted that since the blood donation campaign started, they have collected more than 3,300 bags.

In STI campuses alone, more than 2,000 units of blood were donated through the Dugtong Buhay Movement.

“We’re here for those fighting for their lives and in dire need of blood. We need at least one million units of blood each year to meet the needs of patients who rely on it,” Pangandaman said, citing Philippine Red Cross reports.

“By donating blood, we are not merely extending another life; we are also creating a cycle of kindness that reflects the very essence of solidarity.”

Also present during the event were AFP chief of staff General Romeo Brawner Jr., PCG commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, PRC secretary general Gwendolyn Pang, and STI West Negros University vice president for academic affairs Frederick Beroya. (PNA)