MANILA – The Civil Service Commission (CSC) is encouraging government employees to help save lives by participating in the nationwide bloodletting drive on Sept. 12, 2024.
The activity, dubbed “Dugtong Buhay, Handog ng Lingkod Bayan,” will be conducted by the CSC, jointly with the Department of Health - Philippine Blood Center (PBC) and Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium, as part of the 124th Philippine Civil Service Anniversary (PCSA) celebration.
CSC Chairperson Karlo Nograles said he is looking forward to the support of national and local government agencies, along with their employees, during the second week of the PCSA, themed Linggo ng Malasakit sa Kapwa.
“Sa pagdiriwang natin ng isa na namang taon ng paglilingkod sa kapwa, inaanyayahan natin ang mga ahensya ng gobyerno at mga kawani na sumali sa isang buong araw ng pagpapakita ng malasakit. Ang kusang loob na pagbigay ng dugo para sa pangangailangang medikal ay isang uri ng serbisyo publiko na nagpapakita ng ating pagpapahalaga sa buhay (In celebrating another year of serving the public, we are inviting all government agencies and employees to join a day of showing compassion. Donating blood for medical needs is a form of public service that shows our value for life),” he said in a Friday news release.
In the National Capital Region, the blood drive will be held at the CSC Central Office in Batasan Hills and at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Environmental Management Bureau Building, both in Quezon City.
Meanwhile, the venues of the bloodletting activity in the regions are available at the respective CSC Regional Office Facebook Pages.
Interested blood donors will be screened based on the following guidelines: must be 18 to 65 years old; must have a weight of at least 50 kilograms or 110 pounds; should not be anemic; hemoglobin level must be at least 125 g/L; and blood pressure must be between 90-160 mmHg for the systolic and 60-100 mmHg for the diastolic; and with a pulse rate of 50 to 100 beats per minute.
The CSC said government employees who will participate in the blood drive shall be on official business on the scheduled date.
Those who will qualify and actually donate blood shall be entitled to a one (1) day compensatory time-off, pursuant to the CSC-Department of Budget and Management Joint Circular No. 2, s. 2004.
Other upcoming activities lined up for the 124th PCSA include the Medical Mission: Medical Relief for the Underprivileged, Tree Growing For-A-Cause, National Coastal Clean-up, 2024 Leaders & Human Resource Symposium, and the Contact Center ng Bayan Partner Recognition Program.
For more information about the 124th PCSA and the schedule of activities, visit csc.gov.ph/pcsa2024. (PR)