2 ambulances left idle at disaster office hub

CEBU, Philippines — A "waste of government funds."

This is how Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano described the purchase of two ambulances, which cost ?2 million each, and have been sitting idle at the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) hub in Barangay Looc for four years since its purchase.

This came after Ouano personally discovered yesterday that two ambulances were not in operation as its registration is not under the Mandaue City Government, but under a private individual — the supplier based in Manila.

"Gigastoan man ni sa syudad unya wa nagamit. Usik-usik  na sad ta og pundo sa Gobyerno," Ouano told reporters in an interview yesterday.

Ouano was only supposed to inquire with Mandaue CDRRMO Head Buddy Alain Ybañez and Department of General Services Chief, City Engineer Marivic Cabigas, regarding the request from the Mandaue City Health Office for an additional ambulance — but instead, he ended up discovering the issue.

"Maong nindot sad ba nga kita gyud ang mutuyok sa different departments, daghan sad ta og mahibaw-an,"  said Ouano.

He said he was dismayed upon learning that the City could have had at least 12 operational ambulances, including the two in question, but these cannot be used simply because the  registration is not under the city government.

"So kung naay mahitabo ani- makadisgrasya, unya driver pa gud sa gobyerno-dili pwede ma allocate-an og pundo sa gobyerno kay dili man under sa city government ang rehistro niya,"  Ouano said.

Ouano said the matter will be addressed and investigated to determine how this happened, especially since the ambulances were already received as early as 2021.

He said that the city government has been constantly following up, but the supplier has reportedly not been responding.

Meanwhile, City Engineer Marivic Cabigas explained that they temporarily halted the operation of the ambulances because the vehicles are not yet officially listed as assets of the city government. He said the ambulances do not have the Official Receipt (OR) and Certificate of Registration (CR).

"Dili pa pwede mapadagan kay kung simbako og madisgrasya. Atong patubagon ang katong naggamit, dili gyud ang syudad,"  Cabigas explained.

Cabigas confirmed that the ambulances have not been used for four years since their purchase.

She added that the transfer was delayed because the supplier, MFR, did not provide the city government with the necessary documents required to transfer ownership.

However, she assured that the DGS will work on the matter to fast-track the processing of the ORCR, and insurance for the vehicles.

On the other hand, CDRRMO Head Ybañez revealed that despite lacking ORCR, the vehicles were used during emergencies, particularly when there was a shortage of ambulances during Typhoon Odette in December 2021.

Ybañez shared that it was a desperate decision to use the ambulances despite the lack of proper documentation because of the urgent need during those times, especially for transporting people and patients during the calamity.

However, the CDRRMO acknowledged that the move was “risky,” especially for the drivers who are also hired as job order personnel—and the fact that the vehicles were still not officially registered under the Mandaue City Government.

Ybañez said that currently, out of the 12 ambulances, only seven are serviceable in the city. This included the two on standby, while the others are undergoing maintenance.

To address the issue, Ouano has ordered the City Legal Office to investigate the matter and to determine what possible actions the city government could take.

Ouano said there is a need to review the contract between the previous administration and MFR so they can promptly communicate with the supplier.

He added that the matter will be left to the City Legal Office to decide the appropriate course of action, even if it means imposing penalties or filing a case against those responsible.

"If necessary, we will file a case," he said. "Again gigastoan na og 4 million sa city unya nahimo na hinuon nang useless."

He emphasized that the city government has already paid for the ambulances, which is why he is determined to find a way to expedite the transfer of ownership from the supplier to the city.

"Mao na atong goal to fast-track para maggamit pa nila. The more naa ni siya diri, nga dili gamiton, aw maguba gyud na eventually," said Ouano.

Despite this, Ouano assured he will still provide an ambulance for the Mandaue City Health Office as requested on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Mandaue City Government has deemed it urgent to clear the medical waste that has been stored at the old North Bus Terminal in Barangay Subangdaku since the third quarter of last year.

"At least nakit-an gyud nato in our own eyes unsay status ani karon in terms sa atong mga medical waste,"  said Ouano.

Ouano said he will immediately summon the third-party service provider, along with the Mandaue City Environment and Natural Resources Office (MCENRO) and the Mandaue City Hospital, today, July 4, to ensure the proper disposal of the waste.

MCENRO Head, Architect Araceli Barlam, also agreed that the area should be urgently cleared, especially since the personnel working there are exposed to health hazards.

According to the report on the operations of the Mandaue City Integrated Solid Waste Management (MCISWM) Facility of MCENRO, the waste includes approximately 292 drums of infectious waste and nine drums of hazardous waste.

The infectious waste included items such as syringes, blood-soaked bandages, and other contaminated medical materials, while the hazardous waste consisted of broken fluorescent lamps, chemical containers, used bottles, and other similar items.

Barlam said that the delay was caused by the pending issuance of the Permit to Transfer (PTT) from the city government to the service provider. Once the permit is issued, the waste can be transported legally and safely.

The PTT is also the final requirement before the waste can be hauled away.

MCENRO said that on their part, they have already submitted the application and are now just waiting for the third-party service provider to respond.

"Mao na we are hoping again nga ang ilang giingon nga next week, mao na gyud na siya,"  said Barlam.

On the other hand, Barlam said that infectious waste undergoes treatment using an autoclave machine, where it is sterilized with heat to eliminate contaminants. Once sterilized, it is reclassified as general waste and can then be disposed of at the Barangay Binaliw landfill. However, hazardous medical waste is not included in the autoclave procedure.

"In fairness sa MCENRO they did their part, ang service provider nalang gyud ani,"  Ouano said.

To protect the children in the area, Ouano also instructed the Janitorial and Security Services Unit (JASSU) to assign guards to the site, since at least 40 families live near the waste storage area.

Ouano said that the waste stored in Subangdaku has been kept there since the third quarter of last year.

The inspection followed Ouano’s visit to the City Hospital last Wednesday where he first saw the extent of the waste accumulated.

It has reportedly remained there for over a year due to delays in securing permits for a new waste hauler.

Ouano emphasized that he has requested a specific date for the waste collection after earlier assurances that it would be completed by July.

According to MCENRO’s official report, the facility receives an estimated 600 kilograms of infectious waste every quarter, not including the hospital backlog.

Waste is generated from multiple sources including the City Health Office, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMSHO), the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office DRRMO, and the City Veterinary Office.

The medical waste were supposed to be collected by Cleanaway Philippines Inc., the third-party Treatment, Storage, and Disposal (TSD) provider contracted by the city, but has yet to complete the PTT. CNU Intern Giane Kate Pilapil/JG (CEBU NEWS)