The city currently has 14 ambulance units after five more were turned over to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) and four barangays recently.
Each brand-view vehicle costs ₱2.838 million and fully equipped with a first-aid kit, stretchers, and basic requirements for rescue operations.
“This is a big help for barangays in times of emergency. I believe having ambulances each in 10 big barangays, plus four in CDRRMO, is already very substantial,” Mayor Evelio Leonardia said during the turn-over rites held at the Bacolod City Government Center grounds.
The latest recipient-barangays are Felisa, Mansilingan, Villamonte, and Vista Alegre.
Leonardia said the ambulance units were procured using the city’s allocation in 2019, but the delivery has been delayed by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
“I hope that people will understand that. The bottom line is that these ambulances are ready to service our people in times of emergency,” he said.
The CDRRMO now has four ambulance vehicles. The six other barangays with ambulance units are Bata, Granada, Handumanan, Sum-ag, Singcang-Airport, and Tangub.
Leonardia said the city government will continue to explore the possibilities of how other barangays can also avail of ambulance units.
“In the meantime, those smaller and nearer barangays will be serviced by the CDRRMO,” he said. (Nanette Guadalquiver)