Makati exec: Ambulance recall based on DoH rules

MAKATI City Administrator Claro Certeza said on Friday that the city government has recalled the ambulance assigned to Barangay Comembo in compliance with the conditions stated in the Deed of Donation executed by the Department of Health (DoH) with the city in September 2021.

“Contrary to a recent social media post of Taguig accusing us of summarily pulling out the ambulance from Barangay Comembo, we did it to make the necessary repairs and ensure its roadworthiness before we return it to the DoH, as stipulated in the Deed of Donation,” Certeza said.

He clarified that the ambulance was donated by the DoH to the city government of Makati and not to Barangay Comembo, under its Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP).

He said that as early as August 2023, the city conducted a general inspection of the ambulance in Comembo (K1V 502 Hyundai Starex Grand 2) and promptly coordinated with the DoH HFEP supplier for needed repairs as it was still under warranty.

“Taguig officials quoted in the said post appear to be clueless about the facts pertaining to the acquisition of the said ambulance. It was donated to the city government, so the rightful owner is Makati City,” Certeza said.

He also called out Taguig officials for making hasty pronouncements intended to put Makati in a bad light.

“Halatang gusto niyo lang siraan ang Makati para mapagtakpan ang kakulangan ng Taguig para sa mga Embos,” he said.

“Please stop spreading lies and playing victim. Be sure to back your statements with concrete evidence to spare yourselves from embarrassment and ridicule,” Certeza said.

The Makati official clarified that the city cannot directly hand over to Taguig the vehicle since it has to be returned first to the DoH with a formal Notice of Revocation. By virtue of the Supreme Court decision granting territorial jurisdiction over the Embo barangay (villages) to Taguig, the ambulance has ceased to serve its purpose as far as Makati is concerned, he said.

He added that throughout January until early February this year, the city government has been in constant communication with the DoH for the orderly return of the transport vehicle in Comembo.

In a letter to Mayor Mar-Len Abigail “Abby” Binay dated Feb. 5, 2023, Dr. Rio Magpantay, director of the Metro Manila Center for Health Development, cited the stipulation in the DoH Deed of Donation, which states:

“The donor reserves the right to revoke this Deed of Donation in case any of the aforesaid conditions are not faithfully complied with by the Donee. In case this Deed of Donation is revoked, the Donee shall surrender the possession of the equipment and ambulance to the Donor within fifteen (15) working days from the Notice of Revocation,” he said.

On Nov. 29, 2023, the ambulance in Comembo was pulled out for battery replacement and then underwent a series of repair works until January of this year. These included tire change, change oil and repairs for the blinker, siren, odometer and speedometer, brake system, and rear backup camera.

Certeza noted that another ambulance deployed to Comembo was pulled out temporarily last January 24 for inventory and licensing purposes. It was one of four ambulances donated by the DoH to the city government through Ospital ng Makati in July 2021 as part of the fund allocation of 2nd District Rep. Luis Campos. Another ambulance was assigned to Rizal.

“After inspection and proper review of the said unit, it was returned to Comembo on February 8, and has remained deployed there to date,” Certeza said.

On the other hand, he said the city has reassigned the ambulance from Rizal to Guadalupe Nuevo since the former is very near Ospital ng Makati and can utilize the ambulance in Comembo for medical emergencies. “This decision was made out of necessity and prudence. Politics had nothing to do with it,” he said.