In Eastern Samar, ambulances save lives – and gensets, too

EASTERN Samar’s handful of ambulances have to live double lives. Not only are they used as medical transport, they are also counted upon to perform fuel delivery services.

In their 2023 report on the provincial government, government auditors were puzzled by the discovery that nine ambulances appear to have been consuming fuel close to 400 percent of their tank capacities.

According to records, from January 1 to October 15, 2023, the ambulances filled up to the brim a total of 98 times. Since each vehicle has a maximum fuel capacity of 80 liters, simple math says the total should have been exactly 7,840 liters.

However, the record of total fuel withdrawn showed a much higher number – not just twice or thrice but almost five times at 38,510 liters worth P3 million.

This means the nine hospital vehicles drew 391 percent or 30,670 liters in excess of their combined tank capacities.

“Given the ambulance’s tank capacity of 80 liters, even with an extra 10 percent allowance or eight liters, the maximum fuel withdrawal should not exceed 88 liters. However, the tabulation shows withdrawals of 100 to 500 liters,” the audit team noted.

Auditors said the numbers indicated a lack of proper monitoring of fuel consumption, weak control over fuel issuance, and a deficient management of government resources that could potentially lead to abuse.

Replying to the audit observation, the provincial government admitted that some vehicles in its service fleet, particularly ambulances, were issued fuels in quantities much higher than their full tank capacities as they are required to carry fuel-grade plastic containers for longer runs and fewer interruptions.

The provincial accountant said the few ambulances are sometimes called to make “urgent, unscheduled emergency transport of patients” often in the evening or past midnight.

Since the province is also in an area frequented by typhoons, the same ambulances also sometimes double on fuel delivery for hospital generator sets when there are low power supplies or power interruptions.

“This is very crucial especially when surgery/operation/laboratory procedures are being conducted,” the provincial official added.

When local hospitals do