Reso on blood-letting drive adopted in honor of the late Sen. Heherson Alvarez

The Senate today adopted a resolution declaring October 26 and April 20 of every year a blood-letting drive in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross in honor of former Sen. Heherson Alvarez who passed away last month due to Covd-19.

Sen. Richard Gordon, who introduced and sponsored Senate Resolution 390, said Alvarez's daughter Herxila had asked the Senate through him to conduct a blood donation drive in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross to commemorate her father's birth and death on October 26 and April 20 respectively.

Gordon is currently the chairman of the Red Cross.

Gordon read Herxila's letter during his sponsorship speech thanking the Red Cross for its swift response and assistance. She said because of her experience with Red Cross, she recruited her friends for a blood-letting drive once the lockdown is over.

"I am sure there are many employees in the Senate who would be more than willing to share their blood to save lives. If my dad was still with us, I am sure he would have agreed and would have supported the Red Cross, especially in saving lives in a concrete and tangible ways," Herxila said.

"This is not about the Senate, it's about volunteerism and it's about the fact that we are the only ones that can help each other, especially during tight situations," Gordon said.

On Monday, May 4, 2020, the Senate adopted a resolution honoring Alvarez for his contributions as a legislator, statesman, human rights and environmental advocate. Gordon said the country had lost an "exceptional leader and visionary."

Alvarez served his country for more than four decades as a Member of the House of Representatives, Minister of Agrarian Reform, Secretary of Agrarian Reform, Ambassador Extraordinary Plenipotentiary to the U. S.,Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, Delegate to the 1971 Constitutional Convention, Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Communities, Presidential Adviser on Global Warming and Climate Change, Commissioner of Climate Change Commission, Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Climate Institute, Presidential Adviser on Agrarian Reform, and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Philippine Mining Development Corporation.

He received numerous awards and citations from various institutions including: International Public Policy Achievement Award by the Climate Institute in Washington, D.C., making him the first Asian recipient of said award, EDSA People Power Freedom Award by the People Power Commission, Most Outstanding Senate Lawmaker in Environmental Protection by the UP Institute for Strategic Development Studies, Outstanding Alumnus Award by the University of the Philippines, Gusi Peace Prize for Public Service by the Gusi Peace Prize Foundation, and the Outstanding Human Rights Award by the Fund for Free Expression in New York, among many others.