ERUF trains paramedics for deployment in barangays

CEBU, Philippines - The Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation has started training paramedics to be deployed in different barangays of Cebu City.

Nagiel Bañacia, head of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and city information officer, said ERUF has started training 18 paramedics.

The paramedics will be assigned to man the ambulances of the city government that will respond to emergencies in the barangays. "Ongoing na ang training karon for two weeks na," Bañacia said.

The city government currently has 18 brand new ambulance units that are supposed to be distributed to the different barangays. However, the City Hall has withheld the distribution until the barangays will have trained personnel.

 "In-ani, di pa nato i-release unless ang particular barangay kay aduna nay trained personnel," Bañacia said.

The barangay also needs to set up a system of communication, recording and operating procedures how to respond to emergencies. Mayor Tomas Osmeña even ordered the recall of ambulances and mini-buses from the barangays.

Bañacia said the purpose of the recall order was for inventory and assessment. He said it is also to ensure that the barangays will have competent personnel to use the ambulances.

The Cebu City government had allocated P5 million in 2014 and 2015 to train barangay personnel in emergency response.

On the statement of Councilor David Tumulak that each barangay must have a registered nurse and not just a paramedic, Bañacia said it should be the ideal. However, he said in most cases nurses will go abroad after having completed the training.

 "Pwede ra, there's no problem with that. Pero duna lay down side, kung nurses that's fine. Pero in-ani lang kasagaran man gong nurses pagmakakuha na sila sa training, makakuha na sila'g enough nga knowledge mag-abroad. Taas ang atong turnover 'nya anugon kayo ang training ba. But anyway, di man sad tanan mag-abroad, di ba? Maybe there will be a mechanism along the way like ikaw ma-train for paramedic kay you have to sign for an agreement and you have to stay for at least two years, mga in-ana ba because your training is for free and after that in ana na," Bañacia said. (FREEMAN)