Osmeña, Tumulak clash over emergency call data

CEBU, Philippines — An exchange over emergency call data erupted at the Cebu City Council on Tuesday as Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña challenged Councilor David Tumulak's claim of 400 monthly emergency calls before the body voted 7-2 to approve a P14.88-million budget for the city's ambulance service.

During the council’s regular session, Tumulak defended the proposed Cebu City Emergency Medical Service, saying it bridges a critical gap in medical transport and pre-hospital care, particularly for residents who cannot afford private vehicles.

"This is a very vital component of our disaster preparedness," Tumulak said.

Osmeña, though, was unconvinced. He fired back with quick math — 400 calls a month adds up to 4,800 incidents a year — and drew from his long tenure as former mayor to question the validity of the figures.

"You think there's a civil war going on or something?" Osmeña asked the body.

The vice mayor noted that even Super Typhoon Ruping in 1990 did not generate that many injuries and demanded a physical list of every call from the past 30 days.

Osmeña also questioned why neighboring cities Mandaue, Talisay, and Lapu-Lapu did not fund a similar service, asking, "Is this politics?"

Councilor Sisinio Andales backed the vice mayor's concerns, warning the proposal creates a double expense for taxpayers since every barangay already operates a local disaster committee with 24 active members.

"Why do we have to add more?" Andales said.

Tumulak reminded his critics that they belong to the same party as Mayor Nestor Archival, who had already signed and approved the disaster budget.

"They are all partymates. They know the plan and the projects of the mayor," Tumulak said.

Councilor Pastor Alcover eventually moved to divide the house and initiated the final vote. Councilor Phillip Zafra, who acted as the presiding officer, abstained, with seven members of the council voting in favor and two against.

The approved ambulance budget is part of a larger P30-million manpower request filed by Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office Chief Administrative and Training Division Head Lyntoni Alburo, covering 235 project-based personnel from July 1 to December 31, 2026.

The P30-million fund is divided into three allocations. The Cebu City Ambulance Service receives P14,882,381.10 for 110 personnel, the Quick Response Team gets P12,405,088.44 for 105 personnel, and the Command Control Center receives P2,432,332.80 for 20 personnel.

The 110-member ambulance workforce includes at least 60 community first responders earning P736.77 daily and 35 assessment clerks at P829.77 daily, alongside four nurses and seven laboratory technicians.

Emergency units will deploy across 12 hubs covering Labangon, Sambag 1, Sambag 2, Poblacion Pardo, Cogon Pardo, Inayawan, Sawang Calero, Tisa, Talamban, Cambinocot, Babag 2, and Sudlon 2. — Josh Kent O. Panaguinit and Michaela G. Tabar, CNU Interns/MRM (FREEMAN)