GUIUAN, Eastern Samar (PIA) — Residents of Homonhon and Suluan islands in Eastern Samar who need emergency medical care will be ferried by a custom-built sea ambulance, which was recently acquired by the Department of Health.

The deployment of the sea ambulance was initiated by 4Ps partylist Rep. Marcelino Libanan. 

The sea ambulance will be used as transportation by Homonhon and Suluan residents who need immediate medical attention, as the islands can only be reached via a 2- to 3-hour boat ride, depending on the sea conditions.

Roderick Santos, chairperson of Barangay Bitaugan in Homonhon Island, said the boat will be very beneficial to island residents during emergencies.

“Mayda didi hospital ha amon pero kun severe cases na ngani or operahan, kailangan talaga dad-on ha bungto,” Santos added. 

(We have a hospital here; however, patients with severe cases or those who need to undergo operations should be brought to the mainland.)

Guiuan Mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan thanked both Libanan and the DOH for making the project possible. 

“Ang pagbyahe ng isang boat from Homonhon to Guiuan takes 2 to 3 hours, depending on the speed, kaya kung may emergency ‘di makakabot with that number of hours, now with the sea ambulance, makakapagbyahe na ng 30 minutes,” the mayor shared.

(If there is an emergency, it will take a 2 to 3 hour boat ride from Homonhon to mainland Guiuan, depending on the speed. Now, with the sea ambulance, the trip will only take 30 minutes.)

Libanan and Sabalberino also led the blessing and turnover of the newly-renovated Rural Health Unit in Barangay Sulangan in mainland Guiuan that will serve over 20,000 individuals from the island barangays and other barangays within the catchment areas of the facility.

In his message, Libanan guaranteed continued support for health-related projects and programs in the province.

“Ang pagkakaroon ng sea ambulance at bagong rural health unit building ay magbibigay ng mas mahusay na serbisyong medikal sa ating komunidad, lalo na sa mga nasa malalayong lugar. Sana'y maging daan ito upang mapalakas ang ating kalusugan at kabuhayan,” Libanan said.

(Having a sea ambulance and a new rural health unit building will provide better medical services to our community, especially those in remote areas. I hope this will be a way to boost health and livelihood.)

Sabalberino shared that the department’s projects, programs, and activities are anchored on the Bagong Pilipinas brand of the national government, which aims to provide access to quality health services even in the remote areas of the country.

“In the Department of Health, it amon mandate is to improve access to healthcare services, dapat waray maiiwanan,” Salberino said.

(In the Department of Health, our mandate is to improve access to healthcare services; nobody should be left behind)

Sabalberino said the P4.6 million sea ambulance is funded through the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) as part of its support to boost the health programs of local government units in the region.

The ambulance is equipped with a stretcher, an automatic external defibrillator, a nebulizer, portable suction machines, an oxygen cylinder, and other medical equipment and accessories.

With the limited availability of transport services between the island barangays and mainland Guiuan, the provision of the sea ambulance ensures that the constituents of Homonhon and Suluan islands have faster access to health services and have a readily available health emergency response vehicle in times of calamities. (VTG, PIA Eastern Samar)