STARTING Monday, July 15, 2019, the Cebu City Government will be deploying 104 paramedics and 14 ambulances to bring back the five-minute emergency response.
The five-minute response system was last implemented in 2014, according to Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak, committee on disaster risk reduction management, safety and climate change adaptation chairman.
This, after Tumulak met with the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management team on Friday morning, July 12.
The past few years, it took 10 minutes for responders to get to an emergency or an accident because it took time to travel since the units were stationed in only one area.
But now, Tumulak said, with the ambulance units roving the city, it is expected that the response time will be cut in half.
Tumulak said 10 ambulances will be roving the urban areas. Four have been deployed to the 38 mountain barangays.
The City will put three more ambulances in the mountain barangays.
In the mountain barangays, the ambulance will not be roving but stationed at a specific area. Residents only need to call for help, Tumulak said.
The ambulance stations are in Barangays Taptap and Agsungot, he said.
In the urban areas, ambulances will rove designated routes round the clock, Tumulak said.
“So in case there are emergency medical services needed, it can respond immediately,” he said.
Tumulak said this kind of system will make the people aware that there is a response team that they can approach immediately in case of emergency.
Aside from police visibility, Tumulak also wanted to show to the people that ambulance visibility is available in their area.
“To save lives is the topmost priority (here),” said Tumulak.
The City is aiming to let the people feel that they are protected and secured. The system, he said, will also remind the public to keep safe.
Meanwhile, the City will add 30 more paramedics to the 104. (JJL with reports from FMD)