licensure of land ambulances and ambulance service providers to protect the
public and ensure the safety of both patients and personnel.
9.2 Item IV.10 of the above-mentioned AO defines a land ambulance as a vehicle
designed and equipped with Basic Life Support (BLS) or Advanced Life Support
(ALS) transporting patients to, from, and between places of treatment by land.
Moreover, a patient transport vehicle (PTV) is any form of land
vehicle designed to transport patients whose condition is non-life threatening as
defined in Items IV.13 of the AO. PTVs are not equipped with BLS or ALS.
9.3 Anent thereto, Item V.3 of the DOH AO expressly states, “No land vehicle of any
kind shall bear on its body the label or marking of the word “AMBULANCE"
unless it has been duly licensed and categorized as a land ambulance by the
Department of Health.”
9.4 As of December 31, 2024, the City operates five ambulances for transporting
patients with medical emergencies or life-threatening conditions that require
immediate care by trained personnel or referral to hospitals. However, the
registered owner of one unit could not be determined due to missing
documentation. According to the Supply Officer in the General Services Office,
the vehicle was donated by the DOH.
9.5 The following are the vehicles marked “AMBULANCE” operated by the City:
Acquisition Registered LTO Acquisition
Particulars
Date Owner Registered Cost
Nissan Urban City Government Yes
9/03/2013 ₱2,104,255.32
Estate of Guihulngan
City Government No
11/30/2016 Foton View 343,200.00
of Guihulngan
City Government Yes
5/26/2020 Nissan NV 350 2,394,000.00
of Guihulngan
6/30/2021 Nissan NV 350 For Verification No 2,230,000.00
12/2024 Toyota HiAce City Government Yes
2,190,000.00
of Guihulngan
9.6 The two vehicles that were not registered with the Land Transportation Office
(LTO) was due to non-availability of documents, such as the Certificate of
Registration, for these vehicles were donated by the PCSO and the DOH.
9.7 Further verification disclosed that the five ambulances do not have the DOH-LTO
nor was it registered as a PTV with the DOH because of the extensive requirement
to obtain the license.
9.8 We would like to highlight that securing the DOH-LTO for all ambulances ensure
that each ambulance meets the following essential standards:
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