Mandaue City Council Enacts Mandatory Safety Training for Emergency Responders
In a decisive move to enhance road safety, the Mandaue City Council has approved a resolution requiring all ambulance and emergency vehicle drivers to undergo compulsory safety seminars and refresher training. The measure, designated as Resolution 397-2026, was passed to ensure that emergency personnel operating within the city are adequately trained in public and road safety protocols.
Addressing Reckless Driving and Counter-Flow Incidents
The resolution specifically targets the prevention of reckless driving and dangerous counter-flowing on flyovers, practices that have raised significant concerns among city officials. Councilors Dante Borbajo and Eugene Andaya, who proposed the resolution, emphasized the urgent need for this policy in light of recent accidents.
Andaya pointed to the tragic ambulance crash on April 14 along the Archbishop Reyes Avenue Flyover in Barangay Apas, Cebu City, which resulted in the death of 18-year-old Braille Nichole Kwek. "This incident was not an isolated case," Andaya stated, highlighting that several similar accidents involving emergency vehicles have occurred.
Clarifying Misconceptions About Emergency Vehicle Privileges
Andaya addressed a common misconception among some ambulance drivers: "Some ambulance drivers think that everyone on the road must automatically give way to them," he explained. He stressed that emergency vehicle drivers are not exempt from traffic laws, even when responding to urgent situations.
Key points from the resolution include:
- Emergency responders must obey traffic lights, road signs, and all other traffic regulations at all times.
- Drivers must exercise caution and remember basic safe driving rules, regardless of the emergency's urgency.
- The mandatory seminars will cover both public and private emergency vehicle drivers across Mandaue City, including newly hired personnel.
Implementation and Coordination Efforts
The resolution directs the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue to coordinate with several key entities to implement the training program. These include:
- Mandaue City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office
- Mandaue City Hospital
- The city's 27 barangays
This collaborative approach aims to ensure comprehensive coverage and effective execution of the safety seminars. Andaya noted that the refresher training is essential to reinforce existing traffic laws and remind drivers to maintain vigilance on the roads. "They think that once they turn on the siren, everyone will move aside," he said. "But no matter how urgent the situation is, drivers must remain careful on the road."
Preventing Future Tragedies Through Education
With the adoption of Resolution 397-2026, Mandaue City officials are optimistic about preventing similar tragedies in the future. The goal is to equip emergency vehicle drivers with the necessary training and discipline to balance the urgency of their missions with paramount road safety. This proactive measure reflects the city's commitment to protecting both its emergency responders and the general public from avoidable accidents.
