THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
1 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
S E N A T E  
s. ko. 
Introduced by Senator S. R. Osmeiia 111 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Every citizen has a right to a proper and timely medical care. 
The 
constitutional mandate is that “The State shall endeavor to make essential good 
health and other social services available for all people. To give meaning to this 
mandate, all local government units and government hospitals shall equip and 
maintain the availability of ambulances at all times. 
However, there have been reports about ambulances becoming scarce at 
the time when they are most needed. One of the reasons cited is the flagrant 
abuse of local officials who use government ambulances as a personal vehicle to 
service them to and from their destinations. Consequently, these power-wielding 
exercises sometimes cost another person’s life, another filipino’s life. 
This measure is hereby proposed to regulate, if not totally stop, hospitals 
and other medical authorities as well as local officials, from using government 
ambulances outside its purpose, which is to service seriously ill patients. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly requested. 
SERGIO OSMENA 111 
Senator 
lsher 


SENATE 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINE 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
S E N A T E  
Introduced by Senator S. R. Osmeiia 111 
AN ACT 
REGULATING THE USE OF GOVERNMENT AMBULANCES, PROVIDING 
PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFORE. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. 
It is hereby prohibited for all government officials and 
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employees, particularly those of the Department of Health (DOH), and the local 
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government units owning or operating government ambulances, to secure, 
4 appropriate or use such vehicles for any purpose other than the transport of 
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patients. 
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SEC. 2. The government ambulance shall be under the joint custody of 
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the local 
chief executive and the health officers concerned, and shall be 
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assigned, at least one (1) driver thereafter, Upon the end of the local chief 
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executives’ term or in case he is disqualified as an officer, he shall turn over the 
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custody thereof to his successor at least two (2) weeks before his last day of 
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office. In like manner, in case the health officer concerned is disqualified or is 
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separated from the service, he shall turn over the custody thereof to his 
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SEC. 3. Any elective government official or any government employee 
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found guilty after due notice and hearing of violating the provisions of this Act, or 
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its implementing rules and regulations duly promulgated by the Secretary of 
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Health, shall be punished with a fine of not less than the equivalent of six (6) 
successor at least two (2) weeks before his last day of office. 


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months salary for the first offense and dismissal from the service and 
disqualification from holding any public office on the second offense. 
Any appointive government official found guilty after due notice and 
hearing of violating Sections 1 and 2 of this Act shall be punished with dismissal 
from the service, deprivation of all benefits, disqualification from holding any 
public office and a fine of not less than the equivalent of eight (8) months salary. 
SEC. 4. An elective official having temporary custody of a donated 
ambulance who delays for more than two (2) weeks, without reasonable cause, 
the delivery or turn-over of said ambulance to the intended beneficiary shall, after 
conviction by the court acquiring original jurisdiction, be disqualified to run for 
public office in the succeeding elections. 
If he is an appointive official, the 
sanctions provided in the last paragraph of the preceding section shall be 
imposed. 
SEC. 5. .In case such government ambulance is used in the commission 
of a crime, the person or persons responsible therefore shall, in addition to the 
penalties prescribed in Section 4 hereof, be subject to prosecution under the 
particular provision of the Revised Penal Code, or of the special law applicable to 
the offense committed. 
SEC. 6. The Secretary of Health shall formulate and promulgate the 
necessary 
rules 
and 
regulations 
and/or 
guidelines 
for 
the 
effective 
implementation of this Act. 
SEC. 7. The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act shall 
be charged to the budget of the local government units concerned. 
SEC. 
8. Any provision of law, presidential decree, executive order, 
circular, instructions or rules and regulations inconsistent with the provision of 
this Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 9. This Act shall take effect thirty (30) days following the completion 
of its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of 
general circulation. 
Approved ,