By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Cognizant with the government’s constant push to bring inclusive healthcare to its constituents living in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) continues to make inroads in fulfilling this agenda through its various initiatives.
Such was the case with the agency’s announcement of a plan to provide a landing craft vessel (LCV) for Batanes on Sunday, which would enhance the delivery of medical services in the archipelagic province.
PCSO General Manager Mel Robles hailed the upcoming LCV deployment as pivotal in improving patient mobility between islands such as Sabtang and Basco, especially in emergency situations.
GM Robles said in a statement, “This means the patient can remain inside the ambulance from the point of transport until arrival at the hospital, without the need for repeated transfers.”
He added further, “Direkta natin silang madadala sa pinakamalapit na pagamutan—isang tunay na door-to-door na serbisyong medikal.”
Other provinces with island municipalities are likewise slated to receive their own LCVs, which would complement the patient transport vehicles (PTVs) that the agency earlier disseminated to various local government units (LGUs).
Batanes, with a population of approximately 18,000, is composed of 6 municipalities and 29 barangays, with communities separated by sea, making access to timely healthcare a continuing challenge.
Through this initiative, the PCSO aims to address the transport limitations experienced by communities separated by sea and improve the welfare of constituents living in these locales.
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