President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving access to healthcare services nationwide by providing every local government unit (LGU) with at least one Patient Transport Vehicle (PTV), a more practical and accessible alternative to traditional ambulances.
Speaking in Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte, during the distribution of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) PTVs to LGUs in the Zamboanga Peninsula and Lanao del Sur, Mr. Marcos emphasized that this initiative is part of the national government’s effort to alleviate healthcare disparities, especially in underserved and remote areas.
“These are not the large, shiny ambulances you see in movies. We chose a more practical design, one that can navigate narrow roads and can be repaired easily by local mechanics,” President Marcos said.
The President said 1,067 PTV units have already been distributed by the PCSO since June 2022.
The initial rollout prioritized fourth, fifth, and sixth-class municipalities that often lack basic emergency medical services.
With 1,452 cities and municipalities nationwide, the goal is for each to have at least one unit by the end of the year, with the possibility of allocating more for larger or high-demand areas.
“I’ve been a governor myself. I know the struggle of having to go to the PCSO, then wait for approval from Malacañang, only to be told you’re not on the list because of politics. That’s over. That doesn’t happen anymore,” President Marcos told local officials and residents.
He stressed that the effort was more than just logistics, it was a matter of public health equity.
“We must take care of our people’s health. It is the most important thing,” he said.
