MABALACAT CITY – “We were only expecting P600 million, but we got P750 million in 2019.”
Pleasantly surprised at the increase in the share of Mabalacat City from the five-percent tax on gross income earned by Clark Freeport locators, Mayor Crisostomo Garbo has earmarked portions of it for the purchase of ambulances to be given to other local government units in Pampanga as well as in other areas contiguous to the freeport.
“As part of my blessings na pinagkakaloob po ng ating Panginoon, we have scheduled on Feb. 15 the distribution of 16 ambulances to different LGUs,” Garbo said, citing the “guidance” of Vice Gov. Lilia G. Pineda in these efforts to help income-challenged Pampanga LGUs.
The mayor made the announcement at the sidelines of the press presentation of the candidates vying for the Queen of Mabalacat City 2020 title.
The 11 beneficiary towns in Pampanga of the ambulances worth P1.8 million each were identified by Gov. Dennis “Delta” Pineda.
Aside from them, Garbo said Mabalacat’s sister cities of Balanga and Olongapo, the towns of Bamban and Capas in Tarlac, and the provincial government of Pampanga will each receive an ambulance too. The city government spent a total of P26 million for the acquisition of the 16 ambulances. “Nissan po ang brand ng ambulance. Kumpleto po yung gamit niyan may pang resuscitate, may oxygen, mayroong pang minor surgery,” Garbo said, citing the pressing need for such ambulances among the LGUs.
“Kasi yun po ang pangangailangan na talagang makakatulong po sa kanila in any eventuality. Alam niyo po marami tayong pinaghahandaan ngayon. We don’t know because of this climate change iyan po ang pinaka-importante ngayon kasi in any eventuality mayroon po tayong pangtulong,” Garbo noted. He likewise cited as “motivating factor” for the ambulance donations the directive of Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año for LGUs to help one another times of calamities, disasters, and emergency situations.
On the home front, Garbo said Mabalacat City has a fleet of 16 of ambulances and all its 27 barangays have received rescue vehicles and garbage trucks.
