By Mar-Vic CAgurangan
Variety News Staff

GUAM Fire Department director David Peredo is pressing for the passage of a bill that would authorize the department to charge fees on the non-emergency use of the ambulance and inspection services, saying the proposal would cut GFD’s dependence on the general fund.
Bill 81, Peredo said, would allow his department to raise its own money for procurement of new tools and equipment for firefighters and to cover the costs of training for emergency medical technicians and paramedic certification.
Introduced by Sen. Adolpho Palacios, D-Ordot/Chalan Pago, Bill 81 authorizes the adoption of GFD’s rules and regulations that would subsequently allow the deposit of necessary fees and fines into the Fire, Life and Medical Emergency Fund. The bill was publicly heard by Sen. Ray Tenorio’s committee on public safety and youth last week.
“This legislation is surely not the remedy of all remedies or the perfect solution to a crisis but it is a step in the right direction to the beginning of quality service for the people of the island,” Peredo said.
“All ancillary services currently provided without any cost recovery measure is severely taxing the department’s performance of its mission. The passage and enactment of this bill would not only alleviate the immeasurable burden and dependence on already overtaxed general fund but will also allow us to reallocate time spent trying to make ends meet to saving lives,” he added.
Some of the provisions of Bill 81 are contained in the proposed fee schedules presented by the administration to the Legislature as part of the cost recovery and deficit elimination plan.