Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City, Philippines aed
BY

bate

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 4215

_ INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ALFRED VARGAS.

XPLANATORY NOTE.

More often than not, speedy emergency response to severe medical cases can spell the
difference between life and death or paralysis and mobility. Emergency medical response in
the country, however, has been beset with many problems. In particular, complaints have
been raised from citizens who have not been able to utilize the ambulance in their local
government due to a multitude of reasons such as the absence of a driver or the lack of

budget for gasoline and/or f 1

8 necessary repairs. Moreover, there have been cases whe!

such important vehicles are used for the personal use of public officials and private citizens
or, more alarmingly, for criminal acts.

Local government units (LGUs) should be held responsible for the ambulances in their
possession. As an example, ambulances donated by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes
Office (PCSO) include a memorandum of agreement with the LGU wherein the gas allocation
and the costs of the maintenance must be covered by the latter. As such, patients in dire need
of medical response should not be made to pay prior to the use of such vehicles.

This bill thus seeks to ensure efficient emergency medical response in the country and
prevent abuses of government property and tunds by establishing the responsibility on LGUs
for the ambulance/s in their possession. Government ambulances donated to or acquired by
an LGU shall henceforth be under the joint custody of the local chief executive and the health
officer concerned. It shall be the duty of the local chief executive to ensure the delivery of the
vehicle to the intended beneficiary without delay, to assign a regular driver for each
ambulance, and to include its gas allocation and maintenance expenses in the LGU's budget.
The failure to do these duties, the use of the ambulance for purposes other than emergency
medical response, and any other acts contrary to this law would thus be met with
corresponding penalties.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

leet VARGAS

i


Republic
HOUSE OF
Quezon

EIGHTE!

of the Philippines
REPRESENTATIVES
City, Philippines

‘ENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

HOUSE BIL

Lo, 4215

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ALFRED VARGAS,

AN
REGULATING THE USE OF G
PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREF

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the

assembled:

Section 1. Short Title.
2019",

This Act sha

Section 2. Declaration of Policies. — |
the right of the people to health shall be
shall extend such assistance in the
danger on the life of the people

Section 3. Definition of
shall be defined as follows:

Perms. — For

(a) “Government ambulance
Saving devices and equipment and

ACT
GOVERNMENT AMBULANCES,
‘ORE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Philippines in Congress
all be known as the

“Ambulansya ng Bayan Act of

t's hereby declared the policy of the State that

protected and promoted. in this regard, the State
Most expeditious manner where

there is immediate

the purposes of this Act, the words and phrases

refers to a vehicle equipped with emergency life-

Properly designated as such, used to carry and

transport seriously sick or injured persons or patients in emergency situations

requiring immediate medical treat
facility to another; or for diagnostic
of the patient's sickness or injury,
vehicles are acquired using go
regardless of source.

(b) "Emergency" refers to a conditio
objec

tive findings of a prudent mec

life of the patient where delay in initial support and treatment may cause |

ment to a medical facility or from one medical
or therapeutic treatment where, by the nature
conveyance by ambulance is necessary. These
Tmment funds or donated for public use,

"i oF state of a patient wherein based on the
cer, there is immediate danger on the

of

ical off

Me, permanent disability, or other serious harm to the patient.


Section 4. Joint Custody of Government Ambulances Assigned or Donated to Local
Government Units. — Any government ambulance assigned or donated to Local Government
Units (LGUs) 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 shail turn over the custody of the ambulance to
the proper authority within fifteen (15) days form his last day in office. In the same manner,
jh 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 of office

Section §, Duties of Local Chief Executives. — The local chief executive shall have the
following duties:

(a) The local chief executive who has temporary custody of any government
ambulance shall deliver or cause the delivery of the same to the intended
beneficiary without necessary delay.

(b) The local chief executive shall assign at least one ( 1) regular driver for each
ambulance and ensure that a sufficient amount for gasoline and other expenses
for the maintenance of the vehicle is appropriated every year.

Section 6. Prohibited Acts,

‘The following acts are hereby prohibited:

{a) I shall be unlawful for any public official or employee to use any government
ambulance as an office service vehicle, for recreation Purposes or personal use, or
{or any other purpose whatsoever inconsistent with the purposes of a government

ambulance as defined under Section 1 ot this Act;

(b) It shall be unlawful for any public official or employee to allow the use of any
government ambulance by individuals or entities for private use:

(©) It shall be unlawful for any public office or employee to refuse the of any
Government ambulance by any patient entitled to use the same as provided in thie
Act due to the patient's inability to pay any fee for its use or to 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,

(d) It shall be unlawful for any public officer or employee to refurbish any government
ambulance for purposes other than those provided under Section | of this Act.

Section 7. Exceptions to the Prohibite
notwithstanding, the following use of any governm:
may be allowed

Acts. — The provisions of Section 5
AL ambulance in non-emergency cases



(a) Medical outreach missions; and
(b) Other related hospital operations

Section 8. Penaity Clause, — Any violation of Sections 5 or any of the prohibited acts
ection 6 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 suspension for
one (1) year 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/or the responsible health office in case of local
aovt senent units or the head of a hospital in case of government hospitals, the said official
shall also be penalized with the same penalty provided in this Section.

Section 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Department of Interior and
Local Government, in consultation with the Department of Transportation and the
Department of Health shall, within sixty (60) days of its effectivity, formulate the rules and
regulations for its effective implementation

Section 10. Repealing Clause. — Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
order. letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation, contrary to or
aecngtent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended
accordingly.

Section 11.’ Separability Clause. If any provision or part of this Act is held
force sttutional or invalid, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain in full
force and effect.

Section 12,
Publication in at le

ectivity, — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
st two (2) newspapers of general circulation,

Approved,