Every quarter
Community blood drive
Four times a year, members donate together at our partner blood bank or a mobile drive. New members give their first donation and have their blood type confirmed.
Next drive: date to be announced
Volunteer blood donors in the Philippines
Rare blood, one text away.
When a patient needs a hard-to-find blood type, there is no time to start searching. Coastal Blood Network keeps a list of ready donors, expats and Filipinos together, whose blood types are confirmed. They give blood every quarter and answer when a hospital needs them, day or night.
We are not an emergency service. If someone needs blood right now, follow the hospital's instructions and call the Philippine Red Cross at 143.
CoastalBlood2:14 AM
URGENT: O-negative blood is needed for a patient at our partner hospital blood bank. You are a match and due to donate. Reply YES if you can be there within 2 hours, or NO to skip.
YES
Thank you. You are confirmed as donor 2 of 3. Bring a valid photo ID, eat something light and drink water on the way. Directions and the blood bank's number follow.
The gap we fill
Rh-negative blood is scarce in Asia. Our community can help close the gap.
Every blood type is either Rh-positive or Rh-negative. Most people in the Philippines are Rh-positive, so Rh-negative blood (O−, A−, B− and AB−) is often the type a blood bank cannot find in time. Rh-negative patients generally need Rh-negative blood, and O-negative is the type often used for newborns and emergencies.
<1%of people of Asian descent are Rh-negative
~15%of people of European descent are Rh-negative
42 daysis the longest donated red cells can be stored, so the supply has to be renewed all the time
That difference is why a foreign community here matters so much. A few hundred donors who are registered, typed and reachable can cover needs the general supply cannot, for expat families and Filipino patients alike.
Who can give red cells to whom
| Donor / Patient | O− | O+ | A− | A+ | B− | B+ | AB− | AB+ |
|---|
How it works
A standing list, a monthly check‑in, and a text when it counts
When a patient needs blood
- The request comes from the hospital. A partner blood bank or one of our coordinators confirms the blood type, the number of units and where to go. We never send alerts based on social media posts or unverified messages.
- We text matching donors. Members whose blood type is compatible, and whose last donation was at least three months ago, get an SMS. For overnight requests we may also call, because a text alone won't wake anyone.
- You reply YES or NO. The first donors to confirm get the address and what to bring. Once enough people have said yes, everyone else is told the request is covered.
- You donate at the blood bank. Staff screen you, collect your donation and test it before it reaches any patient. Give them the patient's name so your donation is credited to them.
What members agree to
- Answer the monthly check-in. Once a month we send a test text. Reply so we know your number still works. If you miss one, we pause your alerts until you answer.
- Give your first donation at one of our drives. The blood bank confirms your blood type that day, so every alert goes to a verified match.
- Give at our quarterly drives when you can. Whole blood can be given every three months, which matches our drive calendar and keeps fresh Rh-negative units on the shelf.
- Keep us posted. Tell us when you donate elsewhere, travel, get a tattoo or fall ill, so we don't text you when you can't give.
You can say no to any alert. Saying no never affects your membership.
Can I donate?
Who can give blood in the Philippines
These are the general rules published by the Philippine Red Cross and the Department of Health's Philippine Blood Center. Every blood bank screens you on the day, and its physician makes the final decision. Don't rule yourself out from this page. If you're unsure, ask the blood bank.
The basics
- Age
- 16 to 65. Donors aged 16 or 17 need written consent from a parent or guardian. Donors over 60 may need to be regular donors or have a physician's approval.
- Weight
- At least 50 kg (110 lb)
- Blood pressure
- Within the blood bank's range, commonly about 90 to 140 systolic and 60 to 90 diastolic
- Pulse
- 60 to 100 beats a minute, with a regular rhythm
- Hemoglobin
- At least 125 g/L, checked with a finger prick before you give
- How often
- Whole blood every 3 months
- ID
- A valid photo ID. Foreign nationals usually bring a passport or ACR I-Card.
Reasons to wait
| If you have | Wait |
|---|---|
| A cold, flu, fever or infection | Until you are fully recovered |
| Given whole blood | 3 months |
| Had a tattoo, piercing or acupuncture | 12 months |
| Traveled abroad | Ask the blood bank. Red Cross drives have used 1 month after a short trip and 12 months after a stay of more than a month. |
| Been somewhere with malaria | Ask the blood bank |
| Had surgery or dental work | Ask the blood bank |
| Been pregnant, given birth, or are breastfeeding | Ask the blood bank |
| Taken medicine such as antibiotics or blood thinners | Depends on the medicine. Tell the screener everything you take. |
| Had alcohol | 24 hours |
| Smoked | Avoid smoking for 1 to 2 hours before and after |
Who can't donate
People who have tested positive for HIV, hepatitis B or C, or syphilis, or who have had malaria, are permanently deferred. Blood banks also turn away people with some cancers, heart disease, severe lung disease, chronic alcoholism, unexplained weight loss of more than 5 kg in six months, or behavior that carries a high risk of blood-borne infection. Answer the screening questions honestly. They protect the patient who receives your blood.
Women can donate during their period if they feel well and their hemoglobin passes. If you lived in the UK for long periods between 1980 and 1996, mention it at screening, since some blood services still ask about it.
Quick check
Tick anything that applies to you right now. Nothing you tick is saved or sent.
Looks good
Nothing here stops you from donating.
The blood bank still screens you on the day and makes the final call.
Join the networkBefore you go
- Sleep at least 5 to 6 hours the night before.
- Eat a meal beforehand, but skip fatty food.
- Drink plenty of water.
- No alcohol in the 24 hours before.
- Bring a valid photo ID.
- Wear sleeves that roll up easily.
On the day, about 30 minutes
- Register and fill in a health questionnaire.
- Quick check-up of your weight, blood pressure, pulse and temperature, plus a finger-prick hemoglobin test.
- Private interview about your answers.
- Donation of about 450 cc, which takes 5 to 10 minutes, using a sterile single-use needle.
- Rest with a drink and a snack before you leave.
Your body starts replacing the fluid within 24 hours and is usually back to normal within about a month.
Drives and fundraising
Expats and Filipinos, giving to the same blood bank
Every unit our members give goes into the general supply at our partner hospital, for any patient who needs it. The money we raise pays blood processing fees for Filipino families who can't afford them.
Every year
Pickleball tournament
Our annual fundraiser. Entry fees and sponsorships pay screening and processing costs for patients who need help.
Date and venue to be announced
All year
Processing fee fund
Donated blood is free in the Philippines, but each unit carries a processing fee for testing and storage, often ₱1,000 to ₱1,800. We cover these fees for patients in need through our hospital partner and the Philippine Red Cross Blood Samaritan Program.
Join
Become a member
Membership is free and every blood type is welcome. Rh-negative donors (O−, A−, B− and AB−) are the people we need most. If you don't know your type, the blood bank will confirm it at your first drive.
- Sign up here.
- Reply to your first check-in text.
- Give your first donation at our next quarterly drive.
- You are on the alert list.
Before you sign up, please read the important information and privacy notice at the bottom of this page.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Can foreigners donate blood in the Philippines?
Yes. Blood banks screen foreign nationals the same way as everyone else. Bring your passport or ACR I-Card. Recent travel is the most common reason expats are asked to wait, so tell the screener about any trips abroad.
Will I be paid for donating?
No. Under Republic Act 7719, the National Blood Services Act of 1994, blood donation in the Philippines is voluntary and unpaid, and blood may not be bought or sold. We never pay donors, and we never ask patients to pay for donors.
If blood is donated, why do patients pay?
Blood banks charge a processing fee, capped by the Department of Health, to cover screening, testing and storage. It is often ₱1,000 to ₱1,800 per unit. Our fundraising covers this fee for patients who can't afford it.
Do I have to answer every alert?
No. Reply NO or ignore the text, and we move on to the next donor. Your membership is not affected.
What happens if I miss the monthly check-in?
We pause your alerts until you reply. Nothing else changes, and you can reply at any time to switch alerts back on.
I travel a lot. Can I still join?
Yes. Text us when you leave and when you're back. Travel abroad can mean a wait of 1 to 12 months before you can donate, depending on where you went and for how long, so we will hold your alerts until you're eligible again.
Is the network only for expats?
No. Anyone who can donate is welcome, and Rh-negative Filipinos are especially needed. The blood our members give helps any patient at our partner hospital.
A patient I know needs blood. How do I ask for help?
Ask the attending physician for a blood request form and take it to the hospital's blood bank. The blood bank can then contact our coordinators. We only send alerts for requests a hospital has confirmed, which protects both patients and donors.
I can't donate. How else can I help?
Volunteer at a drive, play in or sponsor the pickleball tournament, give to the processing fee fund, or bring an Rh-negative friend to our next drive.
Please read
Important information
We are not a blood bank or a medical provider
Coastal Blood Network is a volunteer community that connects willing donors with licensed blood banks. We do not collect, test, store, process or give blood. Every donation happens at a licensed blood bank, which screens each donor, tests each unit and decides whether it can be used.
We are not an emergency service
We can't guarantee that a donor will be available, will respond, or will reach the blood bank in time. Never wait on this network in an emergency. Follow the treating doctor's instructions, contact the hospital blood bank, call the Philippine Red Cross at 143, or call the national emergency hotline at 911.
Health information here is general
The eligibility rules on this site summarize published Philippine guidance as of October 2026. They can change and can differ between blood banks. They are not medical advice. The blood bank's staff and physician decide whether you can donate. Talk to your own doctor about any health concerns.
Donation is voluntary and unpaid
Under Republic Act 7719, the National Blood Services Act of 1994, blood is given voluntarily and without payment. Coastal Blood Network never pays donors, never sells blood, and never charges patients for connecting them with donors. Money we raise is never payment for blood.
Donating carries small risks
Most donors feel fine afterward. Some feel lightheaded or faint, or get a bruise where the needle went in. Follow the blood bank's aftercare advice, rest, and drink fluids. You take part voluntarily and can stop at any point, including partway through a donation.
Membership is not a contract
You can decline any alert, pause your alerts, or leave at any time by replying STOP or contacting us. Nobody is obliged to donate, and no one will be asked why they said no.
Fundraising
Funds raised are used to pay blood screening and processing fees for patients in need, through our hospital partner and established programs. We will publish how funds are used each year. Our organization's registration details will be listed here once registration is complete.
Other organizations
We mention the Philippine Red Cross, the Department of Health and other organizations for information only. Unless we say so, it does not mean they endorse or partner with Coastal Blood Network.
Privacy notice
We follow the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (Republic Act 10173). Because blood type and donation eligibility are health information, the law treats them as sensitive personal information, and we only process them with your explicit consent.
What we collect
- Your name, mobile number, email address and the city or area where you live
- Your blood type, the date of your last donation, and any waiting period you tell us about
- Your replies to check-in texts and alerts
- Records of your consent, and a parent's or guardian's consent for donors aged 16 or 17
Why we use it
- To text or call you when a patient needs your blood type
- To send the monthly check-in and invitations to drives
- To avoid contacting you while you are unable to donate
- To count responses and donations so we can report on our work, using totals only
Who sees it
- A small number of trained volunteer coordinators
- The requesting blood bank, which receives your name and mobile number only after you confirm you are coming
- Our SMS and calling provider, which sends messages on our behalf under a data sharing agreement
We never sell your information, never use it for advertising, and never publish anyone's blood type.
How long we keep it and how we protect it
We keep your details while you are a member and delete them within 90 days after you leave, except where the law requires us to keep a record. Access is limited to coordinators who need it. If a breach affects your information, we will notify you and the National Privacy Commission within 72 hours, as the law requires.
Your rights
You have the right to be informed, to access your information, to correct it, to object to its processing, to have it erased or blocked, to receive a copy in a portable format, to claim damages, and to file a complaint with the National Privacy Commission at privacy.gov.ph.
Contact
Data Protection Officer: to be named before sign-ups open. Email privacy@blood.com.ph