The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has approved the Cebu Provincial Government’s plan to purchase two sea ambulances this year.
The approval provides the necessary clearance for the provincial government to proceed with the procurement of the emergency vessels, which are intended to serve island communities in Bantayan and Camotes.
The two vessels are expected to provide dedicated emergency medical transport for residents who need to travel by sea to hospitals on mainland Cebu. Provincial officials said the boats are intended to make patient transfers faster and safer, particularly during medical emergencies.
Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office head retired Colonel Dennis Pastor said the procurement process is already underway. The two sea ambulances are expected to cost about P50 million in total, with one vessel assigned to the Camotes Island group and the other to Bantayan.
The provincial government is targeting completion of the purchase before the end of 2026. Provincial Administrator Atty. Ace Durano said the bidding process is already ongoing and that the procurement remains within the government’s target schedule.
Officials said island residents can face difficulties when urgent medical treatment requires transportation to mainland hospitals. Commercial ferries and roll-on/roll-off vessels operate on fixed schedules, while smaller chartered boats may not have the equipment needed to transport patients safely during rough sea conditions.
The vessels will be operated through the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, which will also need additional personnel, including trained boat operators, to run the service.
The planned acquisition is part of Cebu’s efforts to improve emergency medical access for communities in the province’s island municipalities. The procurement remains subject to the required government bidding and purchasing procedures.
