The Davao City government has received 16 ambulance units from the Department of Health (DOH) under its health facilities enhancement program. City Health Officer Dr. Josephine Villafuerte said the new units, which costs P2.3 million each, will be deployed to the city government’s health centers and clustered barangays in the second and third districts for emergency use and transport of patients.

“This is going to be a great help to the people of the barangay since they don’t have to wait for an ambulance to go up to the periphery. Pwede na sila ang magdala sa ilang mga pasyente ug magrefer diri sa atong mga hospitals or to the nearest facility (they can bring their patients and refer to our hospitals or the nearest facility), because they already have an active disaster response team,” Villafuerte said.

DOH undersecretary Dr. Abdullah B. Dumama Jr. who led the handover of the vehicles, said that the DoH also donated ambulances to other areas for better access to health care services.

He said a total of 33 ambulances were donated to the Davao Region.

In her message delivered via Zoom, Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte thanked DoH and emphasized the importance of the new ambulances in delivering medical assistance to more Dabawenyos.

“The present health emergency has highlighted the need for governments to provide the public with better access to health care services, and given the expansive land area of Davao City – with 182 barangays, these emergency vehicles will definitely enable our barangay officials and the personnel from the district health offices to reach more individuals in need of emergency medical services,” she said.

“More ambulances mean that we can provide healthcare assistance to more Dabawenyos. And with this enhancement in health service delivery, we can contribute to the Philippine health agenda of attaining better health outcomes for all Filipinos,” Mayor Sara added.