Mayor-elect Pedy Sabando of the municipality of Roxas said his first order of business upon assuming office will be to improve health care services, particularly emergency response in far-flung barangays.
He said one of his priorities, which he promised during the campaign period, is to procure rescue vehicles for every barangay.
“Pangarap ko na magkaroon ng rescue vehicles ang 29 barangays na nasa mainland and yung dalawang island barangays magkaroon ng sea ambulance,” Sabando said in a press conference on Monday, May 19.
He explained that because most barangays are located far from the poblacion, requiring at least one hour of travel, many patients, especially accident victims, are unable to make it to the hospital in time.
“Pero kung may emergency vehicle ang bawat barangay, mabilis ang magiging responde at madadala agad sa hospital kaya mas malaki ang chance na maililigtas ang pasyente,” he said.
Sabando explained that his initial plan is to purchase at least five vehicles immediately, but he was advised that it may not be feasible.
He also said he intends to review the local government’s fiscal management, noting that while Roxas has a 2025 budget of ₱635 million, it also carries a loan of almost ₱500 million.
“Ang gagawin natin ay iprograma ng maayos yung pera. I-separate yung pambayad ng utang, yung pambili ng rescue vehicles. Kasi hindi naman natin pwedeng biglain na by 2026 yung 29,” he said.
“So in three years’ time, mabibigyan ng 29 rescue vehicles at dalawang sea ambulance. By 2026 sampu lang muna, and then 2027 another 10, and sa 2028 yung 9 at yung dalawang sea ambulance,” he added.
He also said he is looking to allocate an additional ₱1 million for each barangay to support development initiatives.
“Kukunin yan sa 20 percent development fund ng munisipyo every year. Sa ngayon ang pondo ng munisipyo ay ₱635 million, 20 percent ay nasa ₱127 million na kung babawasan mo ng ₱31 million, meron pang matitira para sa munisipyo para sa ibang programa,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Sabando’s legal counsel, Atty. Orlando Baalan, said Sabando’s team has yet to meet with the group of incumbent Mayor Dennis Sabando to discuss the transition.
Baalan said they are still determining who will compose the transition committee and how the process will proceed.
“At makikipag-ugnayan pa rin kami sa DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) para maging smooth, kung sino man yung kanilang magiging yung transfer ng mga documents, properties and whatever,” Baalan stated, noting that by the end of May, they hope to finalize the committee members.
“But definitely ang koni-contemplate namin ngayon ay maayos yung transition committee nang sa gayun ay maging maayos din yung transfer ng mga assets including personnel, material assets ng pamahalaang lokal ng Roxas sa bagong halal na mayor,” he added.
Moreover, Sabando allayed fears among casual and job order employees of the municipal government, assuring them that no one will be removed, provided they are doing their jobs.
“Yung mga casual at job order, hindi ko tatanggalin pero, dapat nagta-trabaho sila at pinapakinabangan ng taong bayan,” he said.
“Kung nakikita naman natin na sila ay tumatanggap lang ng sweldo galing sa gobyerno at walang ginagawa para magserbisyo sa tao, siguro naman yun ang mga tao na dapat natin alisin kasi sayang yung pera ng gobyerno na ipapasweldo sa isang casual na walang ginagawa,” he added.
