Department of Health (DOH) – MIMAROPA (Oriental/Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo today announced new hotlines that will serve as the permanent numbers for the air ambulance.
“We are announcing the new official hotlines that will serve 24/7 where people needing medical emergency may request, inquire on how to avail of the free services of the air ambulance, especially those in remote areas,” Dr. Janairo stated.
“The hotlines will be operational 24/7 and a standby staff will promptly answer calls/texts of anyone in need of an emergency airlift,” he added.
The hotlines are 0917-5015690 and 0917-5531651 for Globe; 0998-5339136 and 0920-9771903 for Smart.
The air ambulance has resumed its regular flight on August 15, 2017. To date, it has airlifted a total of 106 emergency patients since it was launched on March 15, 2017.
Regular patients transported were from the islands of Cuyo, Magsaysay, Balabac, and Brooke’s Point in Palawan. Emergency patients coming from nearby Zamboanga and Tawi-Tawi are also being transported and brought to the nearest health facility in Palawan.
The air ambulance was made possible through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed on February 8, 2017 by DOH-MIMAROPA and the Philippine Adventist Medical Aviation Services, Incorporated (PAMAS) with headquarters located in Brooke’s Point, Palawan.
It is one of the special projects of Director Eduardo C. Janairo to augment the lack of emergency transport in the region that would carry emergency patients from far flung island municipalities and barangays, especially in the province of Palawan.