BACOLOD City — The Bacolod City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) has ordered all barangays with their own ambulances to appear before the office for an assessment of the capability and preparedness of their rescue personnel following a viral video that allegedly showed lapses in the handling of a vehicular accident victim in Barangay Sum-ag.
Mayor Greg Gasataya said he directed CDRRMO head Dr. Anna Maria Laarni Pornan to call the attention of all barangays operating ambulances to verify the training and qualifications of their emergency responders.
“Dr. Pornan has been directed to determine whether the responders assigned to every barangay ambulance are properly trained. If they are not equipped with the necessary skills and training, they should immediately inform the city government so we can assist by deploying temporary responders for the ambulance,” Gasataya said.
The mayor added that he has yet to receive an official report on the incident and only learned about it through social media.
The move came after a controversial rescue response to a vehicular accident that occurred at around 12:20 p.m. on May 31 along Araneta Street in Barangay Sum-ag.
Based on a police investigation, the motorcycle rider, identified only by the alias “Josh” and a resident of Barangay Tabun-ac, Toboso, Negros Occidental, reportedly swerved to the left while attempting to overtake a vehicle. His motorcycle collided with a Hyundai Stargazer traveling in the opposite direction.
The impact threw the rider off his motorcycle, causing him to be struck by a Toyota Yaris Cross traveling behind him in the same direction.
The victim was transported to South Bacolod General Hospital by a rescue ambulance but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician at 1:31 p.m.
The driver and passenger of the Hyundai Stargazer also sustained injuries and were brought to a hospital for treatment.
In a media interview on Monday, Pornan clarified that the responders seen in the viral video were not personnel of the CDRRMO but rescue personnel from Barangay Sum-ag.
She explained that the ambulance involved bore CDRRMO markings because it was among the units previously turned over by the city government to the barangay for emergency response operations.
The CDRRMO has required the responders involved to submit an incident report as part of an ongoing investigation.
“Based on the video, there appear to be possible lapses in the response. However, it would be premature to make conclusions until we receive the official reports from the personnel involved,” Pornan said.
She added that all barangays with ambulances will undergo a review of their operational readiness and training records. The CDRRMO is also planning to conduct refresher training for the rescue personnel of Barangay Sum-ag.
Pornan noted that the CDRRMO previously conducted rescue and emergency response training for barangay responders in October 2025.
She emphasized that the level of expertise varies among barangays, noting that several villages maintain highly capable and experienced rescue teams.
According to CDRRMO records, only 10 of Bacolod City’s 61 barangays currently operate their own ambulances for emergency response services./PN