SMDC employees roll up sleeves for blood drive

SM Development Corporation (SMDC) employees took a meaningful break from work as they supported SM Foundation’s blood drive.

More than 70 employees of SMDC signed up last September 14 for the activity done in partnership with the Department of Health’s Philippine Blood Center (DOH-PBC). By the end of the day, a total of 18,000 mL was collected and immediately stored in the SM employee blood bank.

Established in 2011, SM is one of the first big companies to have an employee blood bank that is made available to SM employees and their immediate relatives, free of charge.

“This was the first time I heard that the SM group has its own blood bank,” SMDC employee and donor Kristel Bargo said.  “I feel proud that we have such an initiative within the group.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Melvin Katapang, Pathologist for DOH-PBC said: “We need more volunteers to donate as more lives are saved.”

Dr. Rorie Siasoco, SM Foundation Senior Project Manager for Health, for her part said:  “You can save three lives with one bag of blood.”

During their annual physical examinations, employees of the SM group of companies participate in a regular bloodletting activity led by SM Foundation and the SM medical services.

In 2014, SM Foundation was awarded the Jose Rizal Award for the third consecutive time for its blood bank. The Jose Rizal Award is the highest award bestowed by DOH-PBC to an organization with the most number of blood donated.