The upland municipality of Don Salvador Benedicto in Negros Occidental has acquired 13 brand-new service vehicles worth PHP21 million to provide timely delivery of services and ensure preparedness among its constituents.

On Friday afternoon, Mayor Laurence Marxlen de la Cruz led the turnover of vehicles to the barangays and various departments and offices, in rites held at the Don Salvador Benedicto pavilion inside the Panaad Park and Stadium here.

“This has been a very, very ambitious project. We have proven our resilience during the Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic. We are now in the stage of being ‘One Step Ahead.’ More than just a slogan, it is an anticipation of the things to come, a preparation,” de la Cruz said.

The acquisition of the vehicles is funded by a portion of the local government’s PHP246 million loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines under the Assistance for Economic and Social Development for Local Government Units Financing Program.

The town’s seven barangays, which are all considered geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs), each received a Toyota Hi-Lux 4×4 pick-up.

“These service vehicles, especially those assigned to the barangays, will save lives in cases of emergency. Every Salvadorian’s life is precious,” de la Cruz said.

Other recipients of the Toyota Hi-Lux 4X4 pick-up were the Municipal Health Office, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Department of Education, and Philippine National Police.

The Municipal Council and the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office were each given a Toyota Hi-Ace GL Grandia van.

“There are services that need mobility, like the police, rescue, and health. We also need vehicles for our government officials. Most especially, the social welfare office, they need to transport victims that are under litigation. When they go to court, they should not be taking public transport,” he said.

Councilor Henry Alcorin, president of the Liga ng mga Barangay, said now that all seven villages have been provided with service vehicles, their transportation needs have been addressed.

“We no longer have to ask the Mayor’s Office to lend us a vehicle to transport patients to the health center,” Alcorin said.

Municipal Planning and Development Officer Leovilyn Acepcion said each barangay is required to pass an ordinance setting a policy on the use of the donated service vehicle, as well as allocate a budget for its maintenance and repair.

“They should assign the vehicle to the care and custody of an accessible and responsible person,” she said. (PNA)