MULTI-CABS FOR VILLAGES. Governor Roel Degamo (left) leads the simple turnover of 20 units of multi-cabs for 20 barangays in Negros Oriental in front of the Capitol building in Dumaguete City on Wednesday (July 3, 2019). Leaders of the recipient villages said they intend to use the vehicle as an ambulance to ferry patients to the hospital. (Photo courtesy of Neil Rio)
DUMAGUETE CITY – The provincial government of Negros Oriental has turned over one multi-cab unit each to 20 barangays in the province, amounting to a total of PHP6 million.
Governor Roel Degamo, who led the simple turnover rites in front of the Capitol building on Wednesday, said the acquisition of the multi-purpose vehicles was made upon the request of the barangay leaders to provide better services to their constituents.
The governor said other barangays have different priorities such as road concreting, livelihood or waterworks system, following consultations with leaders of their respective villages.
Degamo said some mayors wanted their share of projects being approved by the provincial development council allotted in the procurement of multi-cab units, like Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo who wanted all the barangays in the municipality to be provided with one unit each, as part of the second phase of the multi-cab distribution.
“It’s not every day that government is able to acquire vehicles,” the governor said, as he urged the barangay chairpersons to take good care of the units so they can still be used by the next set of officials.
Maximize their use without political color so all can be served, “dili isoroy-soroy” (and don’t use them for leisure),” Degamo told the village leaders.
The multi-cab unit is a 12-valve, four-wheel drive Japanese surplus (uncut) vehicle that costs PHP296,000 each.
Leaders of the recipient barangays said they will use the multi-cab as an ambulance to ferry patients to the hospital, aside from utilized these for daily functions, peace and order concerns, among others.
Village chief Dolores Castillo disclosed that out of the 32 barangays in the municipality of Mabinay, Barangay Barras, which she heads, is the farthest and with dilapidated roads.
Most of the time, she said the mode of transport used by villagers in bringing patients to the nearest hospital is the “habal-habal”, or motorcycle-for-hire. She expressed elation for being one of the multi-cab recipients by way of a raffle.
Barangay chairman Pedro Estrellanes III of South Poblacion, Jimalalud town also thanked the governor for providing a multi-cab unit for the use of their village. (PNA)
