CEBU, Philippines - Daanbantayan town, under the new leadership of Mayor Augusto Corro, will now provided free use of its ambulance to bring patients from the locality to hospitals in Bogo City and Cebu City.
The town council already passed and approved the ordinance authored by Vice Mayor Gilbert Arrabis Jr. which mandates the free use of municipal government-owned ambulances.
“I commend all the SB members who unanimously supported and approved the said ordinance,†Arrabis said.
Arrabis said the ordinance was already approved by Corro and will take effect immediately.
“Ang atong purpose ani, katong atong kaigsoonan nga kinahanglan og further treatment sa syudad, kinahanglan madala sila sa syudad, dili rason nga way ikabayad,†he said.
The only requirement is to have a written referral from the attending physician of the Rural Health Unit of the town.
Arrabis said that the municipality has two ambulances on standby 24 hours a day and seven days a week at the RHU with drivers on shifting duties.
He said that non-residents like visitors and tourists can also avail of free ambulance use during emergencies.
In the past administration, patients have had to pay for fuel and honorarium for drivers to be able to use the ambulance.
Arrabis said that Corro used P600,000 as initial fund out of the intelligence fund of his office for this year.
He said that an appropriation of P1 million will be included in the regular budget for next year for the operation and maintenance of the ambulances. BRP (FREEMAN)