THE Rotary District 3860 will conduct a simultaneous district-wide bloodletting drive on July 20, 2025, across its more than 100 clubs located in Mindanao, Leyte, Samar, and the Visayas region.
Speaking at the Wednesday’s Media Forum at Habi at Kape, Dr. Maribel Vilela, spokesperson for the Rotary Club of Waling-Waling Davao and board member of the Philippine Red Cross Davao City Chapter, emphasized the urgent need for blood donations, particularly as the country approaches the dengue-prone rainy season.
“We hold this annual bloodletting activity every July to ensure our communities are prepared before the peak of the rainy season. Dengue cases typically rise during the latter part of the year, and the availability of safe blood can mean the difference between life and death,” she said.
This year’s initiative seeks a major collaboration with the Stella Maris Academy of Davao, along with its Parents-Teachers Association and Board of Trustees, who will serve as co-hosts for the Davao City leg. The Sub-National Blood Center for Mindanao, the Davao Rotary District, and the Philippine Coast Guard are also partnering to ensure safe and efficient operations.
Vilela underscored the growing need for blood, citing increasing demand and the high cost of acquiring screened and cross-matched blood units.
Rotary International’s impact goes beyond health services, Vilela said, explaining that Rotary’s projects are guided by seven key areas of focus: water sanitation and hygiene, disease prevention and treatment, basic education and literacy, peacebuilding and resolution, environment, and community economic development.
“Rotary is different because we take a holistic approach to service. Every project we do, from medical outreach to economic development, is part of a global mission to build better, stronger, and healthier communities,” she said.
District 3860, one of the largest Rotary districts in the Philippines, is composed of 101 active Rotary clubs and 2,793 members. The bloodletting activity is expected to have a strong turnout, potentially benefiting thousands of patients in need across the region. Lian Layson, Spamast Intern