Pinoy nurse in New York donates P1M for Kidapawan blood bank

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines  -- A sister-in-law of City Mayor Joseph Evangelista, a nurse employed in the United States, has augmented with a P1-million donation the local government's budget for the construction of a public blood bank.

The donor, Rachel Miguel, who works at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York, gave her donation tohrough the office of Evangelista.

“This is one very noble act of [generosity to]  and love for country,” Evangelista told reporters as he announced her sister-in-law’s donation to the project.

Evangelista led local officials and representatives from the health department in Saturday’s groundbreaking rite for the facility, to be constructed at the center of Kidapawan City, North Cotabato's capital.

Miguel is a sibling of the mayor’s spouse, Mylene.

"The support Ms. Miguel extended to us in putting up this blood bank will not only benefit the residents of Kidapawan City, but those in surrounding municipalities as well,” said Evangelista, whose office oversees the construction of the blood bank building.

The Kidapawan City council had authored a resolution thanking Miguel for donating her personal money for the project.

Local officials are expecting the completion of the blood bank’s construction by early 2014, based on the project’s program of work. - John Unson