Red Cross honors lawmaker

STAUNCH Philippine Red Cross (PRC) supporter Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (Leyte, 1st district) was honored at the Blood Donors Month celebration last July 27 at the Robinsons Place Activity Center.

The award was handed by lawyer Mike Tezon, chairman of the board of the chapter, and Go Tic Ching, executive vice president and committee chairman of the blood services.

PRC chairman Senator Richard Gordon and Secretary General Gwen Pang signed the plaques of recognition.

Romualdez has given P500 each of the 300 runners during the nationwide Million Volunteer Run (MVR) last December 4, 2011, as funds for the Red Cross, the world’s biggest humanitarian organization.

For two school years (2010-2011 and 2011-2012), Romualdez had supported and enrolled nearly 40,000 students from his district at P35 per student.

“I believe in the cause of Philippine Red Cross. They are always first and always there when disasters struck our nation, helping the most vulnerable,” Romualdez, who was also the guest speaker of the program, said.

“Red Cross was always there when my late father needed safe and quality blood,” he added.

Romualdez’s father is former Leyte Governor and US Ambassador Benjamin Romualdez, who built the PRC Building in Tacloban City inaugurated on July 3, 1973.

“I encourage everyone to give full support to the Philippine Red Cross by donating blood to save other people’s lives, give financial assistance and be an active volunteer,” he said.

The students enrolled by Romualdez were covered P35,000 for accidental insurance, and P5,000 worth of medical reimbursement for a maximum of 60 days in case of hospitalization.

The membership, which is open also to youth aged 6-25 years old, aims to continue a dynamic generation of young blood in revitalizing the organization in serving the most vulnerable, according to Marcela Pagasartonga, chapter administrator.

Pagasartonga said Red Cross members have also access to Red Cross services during emergency, access to safe blood, safety and other life-saving services of the PRC.

Other services require fees to augment direct operational costs. All the students were given PRC membership ID.

For school year 2011-2012, a total of 19,892 students were covered from school districts such as Palo 1 - 1,298; Sta. Fe - 4,399; Tanauan - 2,994; Babatngon - 1,909; San Miguel - 1,538; Tolosa - 1,340; Tacloban - 6,464.

Romualdez also commended the PRC-Leyte chapter’s board of directors, staff and volunteers for their continued commitment to the cause of the organization.

The New Sound Broadcasting Network (Bombo Radyo Tacloban) got the highest Platinum Blood Services Outstanding Award during the awarding ceremony. The radio network has conducted ten times mass blood donation since 2005 collecting 550 bags of blood each containing 450cc. (Leyte Samar Daily Express)