Malasiqui: 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.

According to Philippines News Agency, Gilbert Dalisay emphasized the importance of coordinating with barangay officials to reach out to communities, highlighting the need for blood donors to support residents undergoing dialysis or requiring transfusions. The local government aims to collect more than 350 bags of blood each quarter, urging each barangay to contribute at least five donors.

From January to September, the local blood bank received requests for approximately 350 bags of blood. Malasiqui Mayor Alfe Soriano expressed that the incentive program serves as recognition for the residents’ effort and time in donating 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 stated.

Meanwhile, Philippine Red Cross (PRC) San Carlos City branch head Krismar Glen Brillantes remarked that the rice incentive is a supplementary benefit to the primary reward of saving lives. He pointed out that despite having a sufficient blood supply for Pangasinan’s second and third districts, the PRC continues to encourage donations to ensure preparedness for emergencies. Brillantes highlighted the importance of maintaining available supplies, noting that PRC-San Carlos City distributes no less than 500 bags of blood monthly.