FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 2458 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The provIsions in our Constitution provides 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 govemment units and government hospitals maintain the availability of 
ambulances in their health service delivery outlets. 
Various reports, however, show that medical ambulances are not being made available 
at the time when they are most needed. One of the reasons cited is the flagrant abuse of some 
local government officials who treat these government ambulances as their personal vehicles. 
As such, the use of ambulances for non-medical and non-emergency purposes has become a 
prevalent practice in many our municipalities and cities. This practice is detestable since it 
hinders the delivery of a fast and effective medical care to the people, especially in emergency 
cases where the life of a patient is at stake. 
This proposed measure seeks to regulate, if not totally stop hospitals and other medical 
authorities as well as local officials, from using government ambulances outside its legitimate 
medical purpose, which is to service health emergency cases. Under this measure, any 
government ambulance assigned or donated to local government units shall be under the jOint 
custody of the local chief executive and the health off.icer concerned. Each shall be jointly liable 
for any violation of the provisions of this Act committed by the other. 
It shall be the duty of any local chief executive having temporary custody of any 
government ambulance to deliver or cause the delivery of the same to the intended beneficiary 
without unnecessary delay. It shall also be the duty of local chief executives assigned with any 
government ambulance to appoint at least one (1) regular driver for each ambulance and 
ensure that a sufficient amount for gasoline and the maintenance of their ambulance is 
appropriated every year. 
Furthermore, 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. 
Additionally, 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/her 
relatives or guardians and the responsible off.icer-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/her transportation by ambulance. 
In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly sought. . __ ..... __ 
MAN~O" 
M. LAPID 
Senator 
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FIFTEENTH 'CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 2458 
) 
I 
) 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
AN ACT 
REGULATING THE USE OF GOVERNMENT AMBULANCES, PROVIDING 
PENALTIES THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. 
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, therapeutic or rehabilitative 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. 
SEC. 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. 
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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/she 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. 3. 
Duties of Local Chief Executive. - (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 (1) regular driver for each ambulance 
and ensure that a sufficient amount for gasoline and the maintenance of their 
ambulance is appropriated every year. 
SEC. 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 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/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/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 
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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, puqlic poliqy'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; 
and 
(f) 
It shall be unlawful to use deceptive measures such as sirens or printing 
the word "ambulance" on the vehicle's body of any privately-owned or government-
owned vehicle to make it appear as an ambulance. 
SEC. 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. 
SEC. 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 (30) days for 
the first offense; six (6) months without pay for the second offense; and termination from 
service with forfeiture of retirement benefits and perpetual disqualification from public 
service for the third offense. 
If any violation of any of the prohibited acts be committed with the knowledge or 
participation of the local chief executive and/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 for the 
infraction. 
SEC. 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 
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guidelines, orders or rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the 
provisions of this Act. 
SEC. 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. 
SEC. 9. 
Repeating 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. 10. 
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, 
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