Tarlac State University strengthened its alliance with the Philippine Red Cross for the reinforcement of quality lifesaving services and programs through a memorandum of agreement signed yesterday (May 14, 2024) at the Main AVR.
Through the partnership, the Red Cross Tarlac Chapter will conduct volunteer activities for TSU, such as voluntary mass blood donation, psychosocial support services, disaster risk reduction and management, and climate change adaptation.
Moreover, both parties are also seeking to partner for community development programs and community extension activities in relation to the National Service Training Program (NSTP), as well as to develop opportunities for engagement with the National Service Reserve Corps (NSRC).
“We consider this as a milestone and breakthrough simply because we have so many prospects for TSU for it has a large number of students. We are very committed to [campaign rigorously] to pursue this noble objective of recruiting so many members from this university,” Mr. Luciano L. Paras, Jr., Red Cross board of directors’ financial officer, said.
According to Mr. Paras, the Red Cross Tarlac Chapter targets to collect 13,000 blood units this year.
“Our commitment is to save more lives and have more members. The more members we have, the more recruits can carry out PRC’s (Red Cross) humanitarian vision,” he added.
Furthermore, Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Agnes M. Macaraeg assured the PRC that the students and the TSU community will help in donating blood and supporting its other activities.
“We all know for a fact that red means war, red means blood, but red means love as well. So, we are here in this MOA not because we want to surge war, but we want to end somehow the scarcity of blood that the people in the community are in dire need [of],” VP Macaraeg said.
Apart from the aforementioned activities, the Red Cross Tarlac Chapter also looks forward to encouraging students, faculty, and non-teaching personnel to enroll in their Membership and Accident Assistance Benefits (MAAB) program where they can pay an annual contribution to the Red Cross humanitarian fund.
Additionally, the local chapter also seeks to promote training for disaster preparation, basic first aid, health in disasters and emergencies, and welfare services to name a few.
Other PRC officials in attendance are Ms. Jennylyn G. Miclat, Tarlac Chapter OIC; Mr. Jesus Cano Chua, board chairman; and Mr. Rivo Raymundo P. Nisce, board member.
The MOA signing was also witnessed by TSU officials, namely university president Dr. Arnold E. Velasco, Vice President for Administration Dr. Grace N. Rosete, NSTP Director Prof. Rodel Macasaquit, and Office of Student Affairs and Services Director Prof. Gherold C. Benitez, represented by Dr. Dexter L. Manzano. (jlmm-OPA)
Photo by Franc Lewis R. Juanatas
