MANILA — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and its Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (SAICT), in collaboration with the Department of Health (DOH) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), are launching an initiative to tackle the issue of unauthorized or 'colorum' ambulances operating on the country's roads. This announcement was made in a statement released on Thursday, highlighting the growing concern over the misuse of ambulances and the potential risks posed to public safety.
According to Philippines News Agency, a series of orientations and a press conference scheduled for March 1 will aim to educate the public and relevant stakeholders on how to identify and report these unauthorized ambulances. The initiative seeks to address the deceptive practice of marking vehicles as ambulances to exploit traffic regulations, thereby compromising the integrity of legitimate ambulance services.
The SAICT, acting as the law enforcement arm of the DOTr, is tasked with ensuring compliance with transportation regulations and maintaining order on the roads. This collaborative effort between the DOTr, DOH, and TESDA underscores the government's commitment to safeguarding public health and safety by curbing the operation of colorum ambulances across the Philippines.