For many barangays in San Pedro City – particularly those in the so-called “Upper Villages” – having their own ambulance or emergency response vehicles is a big boost, not only in responding to accidents and other emergencies but also in transporting residents in dire need of medical attention to various hospitals.
While the city government of San Pedro has launched large-ticket infrastructure programs to enhance its medical capabilities, including the now-under-construction San Pedro City Medical Center, one main priority of the city government under Mayor Art Mercado is to bring medical services down to the barangay level.
One such program involves the purchase of ambulances for four of the city’s 27 barangays (Poblacion, Langgam, Fatima and Calendola), which Mayor Mercado himself turned over during the flag-raising ceremony last January 29.
“Ang mga ambulansiya po na ito ay inisyatibo po ng lokal na pamahalaan ng San Pedro under our City Development Fund. Ibinabatay naman po ito sa kahilingan ng ating mga barangay official na mabigyan ng ganitong uri ng equipment,” Executive Secretary Aran Sicat told OpinYon Laguna.
He added that the barangays that were given the ambulances were on “high priority” of the city government, meaning that these barangays were in most need of such vehicles.
“Depende po ito sa laki ng pangangailangan ng mga barangay, especially ang mga newly-created barangays [referring to the seven new barangays that were separated from Barangay San Vicente in 2015] na hanggang ngayon ay wala pa ring mga equipment na gaya nito,” he explained.
Although he admits that current budget restraints have currently precluded the possibility that every barangay will be provided with its emergency transport vehicle, Sicat said that the city government has also coordinated with the national government agencies for the procurement of the ambulances.
“We’re hoping po that by this year ay mabigyan na po namin ng ambulansiya ang lahat ng 27 na mga barangay dito sa San Pedro,” he added.
Botika ni San Pedro
Meanwhile, the city government continues to improve its current programs to boost its healthcare sector, particularly the “Botika ni San Pedro” at the City Hall where residents can avail of free medicines.
“Ngayon po ay mas natutugunan na po natin yung mga pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan, lalo na’t nakita na natin kung anu-ano pong mga gamot ang karaniwang hinihingi sa Botika ni San Pedro,” Sicat related.
“Balak na rin po naming magtayo ng isang sub-branch ng Botika ni San Pedro somewhere sa Upper Villages, para hindi na po bababa dito sa City Hall yung mga kababayan natin na nangangailangan ng gamot,” he added.
Photo caption: San Pedro City Mayor Art Mercado (center) leads the turnover of ambulances to officials of Barangays Poblacion, Langgam, Fatima, and Calendula during the flag-raising ceremony at the San Pedro City Hall last January 29. The new emergency transport vehicles are expected to be a big boost in these barangay’s first response programs. (Photo courtesy of the San Pedro City Public Affairs and Information Office)
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