FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 538 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
An ambulance is a vehicle basically intended to transport seriously sick or injured 
patients 'requiring immediate medical treatment to a medical facility or from a 
medical. facility to another and is sufficiently equipped for this purpose and 
desigl:1ated as such. In emergency cases, this vehicle plays a vital role in saving 
lives. 
Owing to its importance, the government has been trying very hard to provide 
enough number of ambulances despite its chronic budgetary constraints and 
other pressing problems requiring prompt action and response. 
However, it is observed that government ambulances are often misused, to the 
detriment of the public. The sight of government ambulances in recreation areas 
and other places where they are not supposed to be is becoming usual and 
tolerated. Worse, there are instances where fees are collected for their use, or 
their use is refused for political considerations or other reasons that defeat the 
very purpose of their acquisition. 
By devoting government ambulances to other purpose, sick constituents are 
deprived of their use as they are often unavailable when needs arise. 
More 
deplorable, the denial of their use by patients requiring immediate medical 
attention for whatever reason is contrary to law and public policy, hence, must be 
penalized. 
It is on these premises that the importance of this measure is underscored. This 
not only aims to prevent abuses in the use of government ambulances but also to 
ensure that these emergency vehicles are available to respond to emergencies 
at any time without discrimination. 
In view thereof, the immediate approval of this bill is requested. 
Senator 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 
538 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
REGULATING THE USE OF GOVERNMENT AMBULANCES, PROVIDING 
PENALTIES THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State 
that the right of the people to health shall be protected and promoted. In this 
regard, the State shall extend such assistance in the most expeditious manner 
where there is immediate danger on the life of the people. 
SEC 2. 
Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms shall 
mean: 
(a) "Government ambulance" refers to a vehicle equipped with emergency 
life-saving devices and equipment and properly designated as such, 
,used to carry or transport seriously sick or injured persons or patients in 
. emergency situations requiring immediate medical treatment to a 
. medical facility or from one medical facility to another; or for diagnostic or 
therapeutic treatment where, by the nature of the patient's sickness or 
injury, conveyance by ambulance is necessary. 
These vehicles are 
acquired using government funds or donated for government use, 
regardless of source. 
(b) "Emergency" refers to a condition or state of patient wherein based on 
the objective findings of a prudent medical officer on duty for the day, 
there is immediate danger on the life of the patient where delay in initial 
support and treatment may cause loss of life or permanent disability to 
the patient. 
SEC 3. Joint Custody of Government Ambulances Assigned or Donated to Local 
Government Units. - Any government ambulance assigned or donated to local 
government units shall be under the joint custody of the local chief executive and 
the health officer concerned. Each shall be jointly liable for any violation of the 
provisions of this Act committed by the other. 


Upon the end of the local chief executive's term of office or in case he is 
disqualified or removed from office for whatever cause, he shall turn over the 
custody of the ambulance to the proper authority within fifteen (15) days from his 
last day in office. In the same manner, in case the health officer of the local 
government unit retires, is separated or disqualified from office, he shall turn over 
the said custody to the proper authority within fifteen (15) days from his last day 
in office. 
SEC 4. Duties of Local Chief Executives. -
(a) It shall be the duty of any local chief executive having temporary custody 
of any government ambulance, donated or otherwise, to deliver or cause 
the delivery of the same to the intended beneficiary without unnecessary 
delay. 
(b) It shall also be the duty of local chief executives assigned with any 
government ambulance to appoint at least one regular driver for each 
ambulance and ensure that a sufficient amount for gasoline and the 
maintenance of their ambulance is appropriated every year. 
SEC 5. Prohibited Acts. - The following acts are hereby prohibited: 
(a) It shall be unlawful for any public official or employee to use any 
government ambulance as office service vehicle, for recreation or for 
personal use or for any other purpose whatsoever inconsistent with the 
purposes of a government ambulance as defined in Section 1 of this Act; 
(b) It shall be unlawful for any public official or employee to use any 
government ambulance in the transportation of patients not in emergency 
situation unless another ambulance is available to respond to any 
emergency; or when no other means of transportation is available which 
non-availability is jointly certified under oath by the patient or any of his I 
her relatives or guardians and the responsible officer in charge of the 
ambulance other than the driver; or when the nature of the patient's 
sickness or injury, though not life threatening, makes necessary his I her 
transportation by ambulance;' 
(c) It shall be unlawful for any public officer or employee to allow the use of 
any government ambulance by individuals or entities for private use, for a 
fee or not; 
(d) It shall be unlawful for any public officer or employee to refuse the use of 
any government ambulance by any patient entitled to the use of the 
same as provided in this Act due to the patient's inability to pay any fee 
collected for its use; or discriminate in its use on account of religious 
beliefs, gender, economic status, political affiliations or whatever cause 
contrary to law, public policy or good customs; 
(e) It shall be unlawful for any public officer or employee to paint over or 
allow the painting over of any government ambulance to circumvent the 
provisions of this Act. 


SEC 6. 
Exceptions to the Prohibited Acts. -
The provIsions of Section 5 
notwithstanding, the following use of any government ambulance in non-
emergency cases may be allowed: 
(a) Medical outreach missions; and, 
(b) Other related hospital operations. 
SEC 7. Penalty Clause. - Violations of second paragraph of Section 3 hereof 
shall be punished by perpetual disqualification from public service with forfeiture 
of retirement benefits. 
Violations of Section 4 and any of the prohibited acts enumerated in Section 5 
hereof shall be penalized by suspension from office for thirty (30) days for the 
first offense; suspension for six (6) months for the second offense; and 
termination from service with forfeiture of retirement benefits and perpetual 
disqualification from public service for the third offense. 
If the violation of any of the prohibited acts be committed with the knowledge or 
participation of the local chief executive and I or the responsible health officer in 
case of local government units or the head of hospital in case of government 
hospitals, the said officials shall also be penalized with the same penalty 
provided in this Act. 
SEC 8. 
Implementing Rules and Regulations. -
The Secretary of the 
Department of the Interior and Local Government, in consultation with the 
Secretaries of the Department of Health and the Department of Transportation 
and Communications and concerned sectors shall issue such guidelines, orders 
or rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this 
Act. 
SEC 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act or the application of 
such provision to any person or circumstance is declared unconstitutional, the 
remainder of this Act or the application of such provision to other persons or 
circumstances shall not be affected by such declaration. 
SEC 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, orders, decrees, proclamations, rules and 
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the proviSions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified .. accordingly. 
SEC 11. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
following the completion of its publication in the Official Gazette, or in a 
newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines. 
Approved,