St. Anthony Abbot Parish priest Fr. Cesar M. Bactol blesses the 16 brand-new ambulances that were rolled out to the town’s 16 barangays by the San Antonio municipal government headed by Mayor Arvin C. Salonga on Monday. Photo by STEVE GOSUICO.
Ecija town rolls out 16 brand new ambulances to its 16 bgys
SAN ANTONIO, Nueva Ecija – This town rolled out 16 brand-new ambulances as part of its “Ambulansya Para Sa Pandemya” program for the people in the barangays.
Gov. Aurelio M. Umali and Mayor Arvin C. Salonga on Monday led the blessing and turnover of the vehicles during simple ceremonies held at the municipal hall grounds here. The project was launched to boost the delivery of healthcare services and emergency response capabilities of each of the town’s 16 barangays amid the coronavirus-19 pandemic.
Joining Umali and Salonga in the awarding of the 16 customized Mitsubishi L300 van-ambulances were Nueva Ecija fourth district Rep. Maricel Natividad-Nagaño, Galing sa Puso (GP) Partylist Rep. Jose Gay “GP” Padiernos, Vice Mayor Julie E. Maxwell, Board Members Napoleon Interior Jr., Teresita Patiag and Sweet Liberty Cruz, members of the Sangguniang Bayan, department heads and barangay officials.
Another highlight of the event was the blessing and ribbon-cutting of the newly-refurbished Dr. Jose Lapuz Salonga gymnasium inside the compound. The already-air-conditioned municipal gymnasium was converted into a world-class sports venue with its flooring replaced with imported hardwood as per standards by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).
Salonga said the two projects were purely a municipal government undertaking with its funding sourced from its own coffers.
Those 16 barangay officials who received the ambulances were: Aquilino Atencio (San Francisco); Honorio O. Garces (Sto. Cristo); Sally Mendoza (Buliran); Ivy Ann Domingo (Sta. Cruz); Emil C. Zapata (Poblacion); Benny Pablo (Julo); Dave E. Garcia (Maugat); Ramon Soliman (Panabingan); Arcie P. Cruz (San Mariano); Jojo Sombillo ( Lawang-Kupang); Odjie Dionisio (Papaya); Adoracion Juliano (Sta. Barbara); Roberto Basilio (Cama Juan); Vic Falconitin ( Luyos); Turan De Leon (Tikiw); and Anacoreta Santos (San Jose).
In his speech, Umali lauded the “Gawa Hindi Salita” efforts of Mayor Salonga and the Sangguniang Bayan in addressing the threats of COVID-19 by providing these vehicles for the immediate and prompt delivery of medical and health services in the barangays.
Salonga said these ambulances will serve as the LGU’s so-called “force multiplier” that will directly respond to the medical and hospital needs of the people in the barangays especially during this pandemic.
He said the municipal government has forged a memorandum of agreement with each of the 16 barangays, making the use of the vehicle exclusive for medical and hospital purposes only.
“From the barangay to hospital lang ito gagamitin, exclusive, hindi pupuwede pang-personal na gamit o pang-shopping mall, iyan ang kontrata namin sa MOA sa bawat barangay,” said the mayor.
