Residents of the island villages in Guiuan town in Eastern Samar are thankful to the Department of Health (DOH) for providing them with a sea ambulance.

Cagusuan village chairman Romulo Francillo, representing community officials of eight villages in the islands of Homonhon and Suluan, said they have waited for this project for years.

“We are thankful for this project from the government. We know that this is of great help to us living in island villages,” Francillo said during the turnover on Tuesday.

Department of Health (DOH) 8 (Eastern Visayas) director Exuperia Sabalberino led the release of the PHP4.6 million sea ambulance to Guiuan Mayor Annaliza Kwan.

The historic Suluan and Homonhon islands are along the Pacific Ocean and accessible through a two-hour boat ride during fine weather.

They are the two islands where Ferdinand Magellan landed on March 16, 1521, to gather food as part of the first circumnavigation of the globe.

“I hope that the local government will take good care of this sea ambulance for patients, especially those living in the island villages,” Sabalberino said.

The sea ambulance has a stretcher, automatic defibrillator, nebulizer, portable suction machine, and other medical equipment.

Kwan assured that the local government would take good care of this assistance from the national government. The local government will also shoulder the salary of the two personnel assigned to operate the sea ambulance. (PNA)