ALL 17 local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila each received one ambulance-type Patient Transport Vehicle (PTV) from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to improve emergency medical response capabilities throughout the National Capital Region.
During a ceremony at the Metro Manila Council (MMC) meeting, PCSO general manager Melquiades Robles handed over the keys of the PTVs to various local chief executives in attendance.
This initiative fulfils President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to equip all cities, provinces, and municipalities with PTVs as part of the Medical Transport Vehicular Donation Program (MTVDP), a vital government strategy aimed at strengthening universal access to emergency medical care, Robles said.
“Metro Manila is the heart of our nation, home to millions of Filipinos. While we have major hospitals and healthcare facilities here, we are also aware that traffic, distance, and accessibility pose significant challenges. These Patient Transport Vehicles will help bridge that gap, ensuring that assistance can arrive swiftly during emergencies,” he noted.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Romando Artes, who presided at the meeting, expressed gratitude to President Marcos and the PCSO for their support to the Metro Manila LGUs, emphasizing that the distributed PTVs significantly enhance the local health care system of the LGUs.
“The life-saving PTV is essential in addressing medical emergencies, disaster response, and transportation needs within their respective localities, aligning with the administration’s broader vision of building Bagong Pilipinas, where quality healthcare is accessible, efficient, and closer to the Filipino people,” Artes said.
On behalf of the mayors, MMC president and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora also conveyed his appreciation to the PCSO for the donation,
The distribution also underscored the PCSO’s continuing efforts to expand universal access to responsive, timely medical transport services while supporting local governments through Mandatory Contribution – LGU Lotto-Share Checks.
Each vehicle is equipped with a stretcher, oxygen tank, wheelchair, first-aid kit, blood pressure monitor, and medicine cabinet, enabling safe and efficient patient transport to health facilities.
