The Philippine Army based in Negros Occidental recently heeded the call for assistance by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson after initiating a blood drive for dengue fever patients. The 303rd Infantry Brigade (303IB) led an event, in partnership with the Negros Occidental provincial government, at the Panaad Park and Stadium last week.
303IB commander, Brigadier General Benedict Arevalo, said the event was a simple and meaningful way of extending help to the people of Negros.
Aside for the event at the Panaad, blood drives were simultaneously conducted by other units belonging to the 303IB, including the 62nd Infantry Battalion, in La Carlota City and Isabela.
A total of 220 volunteers participated in the said activity, where at least 145 bags of blood were gathered.
Based on data from the provincial government, between January and July, there were a total of 1,884 dengue patients admitted at the province’s 11 hospitals across Negros Occidental.
Lacson previously requested assistance after affirming the province’s blood supply was lacking due to the rising number of dengue cases./DGB, WDJ