FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
. .  
S. No. 
4 
Introduced by Senator Manny Villar 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
An ambulance is a vehicle basically intended to transport seriously sick or 
injured patients requiring immediate medical treatment to a medical facility to 
another and is sufficiently equipped for this purpose and designated as such. In 
emergency cases where every minute counts, they play a vital role in saving 
lives. 
Owing to its importance, the government has been trying hard to provide 
enough number of these vehicles 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. Many are instances that these vehicles are used for 
purposes other than those intended for their acquisition. The sight of government 
ambulances in recreation areas and other places where they are not supposed to 
be is becoming usual nowadays. Worse, there are instances that 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 uses, sick constituents are 
deprived of their use as they are often unavailable when the need arises. 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. 
Owing to its importance, prompt approval of this bill is earnestly recommended, 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.No.234 4 
Introduced by Senator Manny Villar 
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 in 
SECTION 1. Definition of Terms.-As used in this Act, the following terms 
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. They 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. 
Congress assembled: 
shall mean: 
SECTION 2. 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 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 days from his last day in 
office. 
SECTION 3. 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. 
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(b)lt 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. 
SECTION 4. 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 any use any 
government ambulance in the transportation of patients not in emergency 
situation unless another ambulance is available which non-availability is 
jointly certified under oath by the patient or any hislher 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 hislher 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 whatever cause contrary to law, public 
policy of 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. 
SECTION 5. Exceptions to the prohibited acts.-The provisions of Section 4 
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. 
SECTION 6. Penalty Clause.-Violations of Section 2, paragraph 2 hereof 
shall be punished by perpetual disqualification from public service with forfeiture 
of retirement benefits. 
Violations for Section 3 and any of the prohibited acts enumerated in 
Section 4 hereof shall be penalized by suspension from office without pay for 
thirty days for the first offense; six.months without pay for the second offense; 
and termination from service with forfeiture or retirement benefits and perpetual 
disqualification from public service for the third offense. 
If any violation of any prohibited acts be committed with the knowledge or 
participation of the local chief executive andlor the responsible health officer in 
case of local government units or the head of hospital in case of governmental 


hospitals, the said officials shall also be penalized with the same penalty 
provided in this Act for the infraction. 
SECTION 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations-The Secretary of the 
Interior and Local Government,, in consultation with the Secretaries of Health and 
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. 
SECTION 8. 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. 
SECTION 9. 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. 
SECTION 10. Effectivity Clause.-This Act shall take effect after fifteen 
days following the completion of its publication in the Official Gazette, or in a 
newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines. 
Approved, 
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