The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group could be mobilized to escort ambulances and get through road traffic, President Duterte said last Tuesday.
The President made the suggestion about police escorts to prevent any patient from dying on their way to the hospital due to Metro Manila’s traffic jams.
“Maybe I will ask all itong – lahat na – Metro Manila, Highway Patrol pag may emergency…‘pag may nakita sila na siren tapos – hilahin na lang. Hilain nila. Itabi nila para makalusot,” he said.
“Maybe that would be a mandatory work for them,” said Duterte, who has left heavily-congested EDSA to rot after Congress rejected his request for emergency powers to improve the traffic situation.
He said the MMDA and the highway cops must “duty bound” to escort ambulances carrying patients in need of urgent medical attention. “Course ko kay kay Danny Lim and itong hagad sa pulis. Must – must hila. Duty-bound to hila,” he added.
Duterte, however, frowned on any abuse of blaring car sirens just to get ahead of other motorists on the road. He assured that motorists abusing sirens would be apprehended. (Genalyn Kabiling)
