THE Zamboanga City Government has purchased two units of speedboat to serve as sea ambulance for the island villages and tourist spots in the city.
Dr. Elmeir Jade Apolinario, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) chief, said the sea ambulance will be deployed in Sta. Cruz Island and 11 Islands that are frequented by local and foreign tourists aside from the island villages.
Apolinario said each of the sea ambulance can carry a maximum of 10 persons and powered by two engines with 150 horsepower capacity each.
He said the two sea ambulance were purchased from a Manila-based firm engaged in yacht-making. Each unit costs P5 million.
One of the two units recently arrived, while the other unit is expected to be delivered in July, he added.
Apolinario said the sea ambulance will be manned by the CDRRMO with corresponding emergency medical response personnel.
The sea ambulance will be launched in July in time for the observance of the National Disaster Resiliency Month, he added. (SunStar Philippines)