CEBU, Philippines — The island municipality of Bantayan in northern Cebu now has a sea ambulance to transport patients that needed immediate medical assistance.
The sea vehicle, which measures 8.8 meters by 2.3 meters, was donated by the Department of Health.
“Ang maong ambulansya sa dagat mamahimo usab nga makadala og pasyente gikan sa mga islet barangay sa lungsod sa Bantayan ngadto sa Hagnaya,” the Bantayan local government posted on Facebook.
“Sa kadugay sa panahon nga kita naghandom sa maong ambulansya sa dagat, sara ari na gayud og aton na gayud kini magamit kung adunay mga emerhensiya sa mga islet barangays,” said Mayor Arthur Despi during the blessing and signing of the deed of donation.
(For the longest time we have dreamed of this sea ambulance and now we already have it. We can use it when there are emergencies in the islet barangays)
In Liloan, the municipality will also have its sea ambulance soon that will ferry patients not just from the town but also from its neighboring island in Camotes. Fifth District Rep. Duke Frasco and his wife, Mayor Christina Garcia-Frasco, through the DOH and Senator Pia Cayetano were able to source out funds for the project.
"During the 2019 campaign, the people of the municipalities of San Francisco, Poro, Pilar, and Tudela in the Islands of Camotes expressed to Congressman Duke Frasco the many times wherein patients would succumb to their critical condition due to limited availability of RoRo boats traveling to mainland Cebu," Frasco said in a press statement.
Meanwhile the Municipality of San Remigio now has a modern terminal facility in Hagnaya Port.
The terminal will open starting today to accommodate passengers bound for Masbate and Bantayan Islands. A minimal fee of P25 per passenger will be collected to help maintain the facility.
"Makatampo usab kini sa local revenue sa lungsod ug barangay nga maoy gamiton alang sa padayon nga pagtukod ug pag-ugmad sa dugang pa nga mga proyekto nga kapahimuslan sa atong mga kaigsuonan,” the LGU posted on Facebook.
The modern terminal facility has an air-conditioned passenger waiting area, ticket booths, comfort rooms and offices of the Cebu Port Authority and Philippine Coast Guard.
It also has general merchandise, souvenir shops, coffee shop, beauty salon, and convenience store. —FPL (FREEMAN)