The local government of Malasiqui town in Pangasinan province is giving 5 kg. of rice to every blood donor as an incentive to encourage more residents to participate in blood donation drives.

Malasiqui Blood Council head Gilbert Dalisay said on Saturday that the local government unit (LGU) holds its own quarterly blood donation drives aside from supporting similar activities conducted by schools and other organizations through the incentive program.

“We go to the communities and coordinate with the barangay officials as there is a need for donors for the residents in need of blood, such as those undergoing dialysis or other needing transfusion,” he said in an interview.

The local government targets to collect more than 350 bags of blood each quarter, requesting each barangay to send at least five donors.

From January to September, about 350 bags of blood were requested from the local blood bank, he added.

In a separate interview, Malasique Mayor Alfe Soriano said the incentive program is an appreciation of the residents’ effort and time to donate their blood to save lives.

“This is for the time allocated for their fellow citizens in need of blood. So that they could bring something when they go home to their families,” Soriano said.

Meanwhile, Philippine Red Cross (PRC) San Carlos City branch head Krismar Glen Brillantes said the incentive is only a bonus to the greater reward of saving lives.

He noted that while there is sufficient blood supply for the second and third districts of Pangasinan, the PRC continues to encourage more donors to ensure readiness in emergencies.

“We don’t know when we might need blood, so it’s important that supplies are always available in our blood banks,” Brillantes said, adding that PRC-San Carlos City releases no less than 500 bags of blood every month. (PNA)