Talisay SP turns down councilor's proposal

CEBU, Philippines - The Talisay City council has turned down the proposal of opposition Councilor Valeriano Ylanan which seeks to include an allocation for fuel and maintenance for ambulances in the 2013 budget.

The committee council on health headed by Francis Richard "Choy" Aznar, said the city cannot afford to subsidize the P300 for every patient that will be transported from Talisay City to Cebu City and vice versa.

"We have to set aside millions for this and the city also subsidizes our ambulances," Aznar said.

But Ylanan said P300 is small.

"Kaayohan man na. Dili man na siya gasto kay para man gyud na sa katawhan," Ylanan said.

Ylanan said the Talisay City District Hospital's ambulance regularly transports patients from Talisay City District Hospital to Vicente Sotto Hospital and vice-versa.

Ylanan said majority of patients who avail of the services of the ambulance belong to the less fortunate.

"These patients are charged more or less three hundred pesos for the use of the ambulance," Ylanan said.

He said the money poor patients fork over for the use of the ambulance could already buy them medicines.

"It is the belief of the proponent that the less fortunate in our society should be given more in terms of service and financial assistance; that patients transported by Talisay City District Hospital Ambulance should not be charged for its use, and the service should be for free," he said.  (FREEMAN)