By Brian Campued
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday led the distribution of 34 patient transport vehicles (PTVs) to local government units (LGUs) in Northern and Central Luzon, marking the completion of the administration’s promise to provide medical vans nationwide.
During the distribution event held at the City of San Fernando in Pampanga, President Marcos Jr. announced that all 82 provinces in the country now have at least one PTV, strengthening emergency response and improving access to healthcare across the country.
“Today is a little different because today, by giving the PTVs that we have behind us, we have now completed 100% distribution of PTVs to every province, to every city, to every municipality in the Philippines,” he said.
“Sa wakas, nakumpleto din natin ang pagbigay nitong patient transport vehicles at lahat na ng ating mga LGU, meron tayong masasabi na magagamit nila para sa kanilang pasyente.”
To date, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) has distributed a total of 1,830 PTVs nationwide under its Medical Transport Vehicle Donation Program.
Of the 34 units turned over on Friday, 14 were allocated to Region III (Central Luzon), eight to Region II (Cagayan Valley), and six each to the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and Region I (Ilocos Region).
Each unit is equipped with a stretcher, spine board, wheelchair, blood pressure monitor, first aid kit, oxygen tank, and other essential medical supplies needed to ensure the safe and timely transportation of patients to and from health facilities during emergencies.
President Marcos Jr. also announced plans to deploy landing craft vessels that can carry the PTVs across the sea, ensuring faster inter-island transportation of patients living in coastal communities.
“Maraming isla dito sa Pilipinas, papaaano pag ang pasyente ililipat, bubuhatin pa, dadalhin sa barko, bababa, etc. Ngayon, ang gagawin sa design na yan, isasakay na yung transport, isasakay na dun sa barko kaya yung pasyente hindi na kailangan bumaba doon sa kaniyang transport vehicle,” he said.
During the turnover ceremony in Pampanga, the President was accompanied by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, PCSO General Manager Mel Robles, PCSO Chair retired judge Felix Reyes, and other PCSO officials.
The Chief Executive also oversaw the distribution of firetrucks under the Department of the Interior and Local Government and Bureau of Fire Protection.
“And gagawin natin yung fire truck together with, ipaparehas natin dito sa programa dito sa patient transport vehicle. So, we have completed the patient transport vehicle, we are beginning now on the fire trucks,” Marcos said.
-jpv
