The first working day of 2021 was marked with the distribution of barangay ambulances, police patrol cars, and other vehicles in the fourth-class municipality of Llanera, Nueva Ecija.
Mayor Ronnie Roy Pascual said 21 barangays (villages) received an ambulance that was procured by the municipal government.
Llanera has 22 villages but one of them opted for a road project since it has an existing rescue vehicle.
Llanera has 22 villages but one of them opted for a road project since it has an existing rescue vehicle, it was learned.
“Napakahalaga ng ambulansiya sa bawat barangay upang mabilis na matugunan ang health emergency lalo ngayong panahon ng COVID-19 (An ambulance is very important in every barangay in order to respond quickly to health emergencies especially during this time of COVID-19),” Pascual said.
Under the memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the town and villages, the vehicles shall be used only for carrying patients within Central Luzon.
“If the patient needs to be brought to Metro Manila, the ambulance in the municipal government will be used.”
“Kung kailangan sa Metro Manila ay yung (ambulansiya) sa munisipyo na ang gagamitin (If the patient needs to be brought to Metro Manila, the ambulance of the municipal government will be used),” the mayor said.
Aside from the ambulances, also procured with the support of Sangguniang Bayan led by Vice Mayor Frank Natividad, were one garbage truck, three patrol cars, a police rescue vehicle, and one vehicle for the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO).
Renato Bernardo, provincial director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Nueva Ecija 2nd District Rep. Micaela Violago, who witnessed the distribution and MOA signing, called on village officials to make sure that the equipment is properly used.
Violago noted the vehicles were procured with people’s money.
Meanwhile, a representative from the office of Sen. Bato dela Rosa said the legislator has pushed for a budget for the construction of a new public market in the town which has been approved by the Department of Budget and Management.