The House of Representatives has unanimously approved on third and final reading House Bill 1530 which mandates all government agencies to indicate the blood type of the individual applying for an identification card, certificate and license.
The bill states it is the policy of the State to protect and promote the right of health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.
In order to achieve this goal, the State shall implement measures that would ensure the safety of lives during disasters and medical emergency situations.
Rep. Alexandria Gonzales (Lone District, Mandaluyong City), principal author of the bill, said knowing one’s blood type is crucial for both the recipient and the donor for the immediate transfusion of the appropriate blood during medical emergency situations.
Gonzales said accidents and other medical emergency situations could affect and happen to everyone. “In case of emergency, which results in excessive blood loss, there is immediate matching so the correct blood type may be transfused in order to save the life of the victim,” she said.
The measure states government-issued documents that shall bear the blood type of an individual are the identification card issued by the Social Security System (SSS) and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).
Likewise, passports issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and the professional identification card issued by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) shall show the same.
Furthermore, the blood type of the individual shall be indicated in the birth certificate issued by the Local Registrar’s Office or the Philippine Statistic Authority (PSA) as well as in the driver’s license issued by the Land Transportation Office (LTO).
Aside from these, firearms license issued by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other certificates, licenses or identification documents that have yet to be issued by agencies to be created after the effectivity of the Act shall also bear the blood type of the individual.
The measure requires the individual to secure a certificate from a pathologist to validate the individual’s blood type.
The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be charged to the appropriations or corporate funds of the implementing agencies and corporations.
The bill tasks the Department of Health (DOH), in coordination with all concerned government implementing agencies and corporations, to formulate the rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this Act within 90 days from its effectivity.
Authors of the bill are House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas, former Rep. Mark Villar, Reps. Gary Alejano, Marlyn Primicias-Agabas, Linabelle Ruth Villarica, Manuel Jose Dalipe, Gus Tambunting, Ma. Lucille Nava, Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado, Emmeline Aglipay-Villar, Raul Del Mar, Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo, Joey Sarte Salceda, Celso Lobregat, Francis Gerald Abaya, Isagani Amatong, Karlo Alexei Nograles, Arlene Arcillas, Leopoldo Bataoil, Estrellita Suansing, Jose Tejada, Wilfredo Caminero, Cecilia Leonila Chavez, Arthur Defensor Jr, Harry Roque, Rogelio Neil Roque, Edgar Mary Sarmiento, Deogracias Victor Savellano, Raul Tupas, Divina Grace Yu, and Juan Pablo Bondoc.