The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office on Monday, 11 December, turned over patient transport vehicles to local government units in La Union (2), Pangasinan (5), Isabela (2), Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Batangas (4), Laguna (3), Occidental Mindoro, Sorsogon (3), Iloilo, and Mt. Province.

The turnover ceremony was held at the Wack-Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong City.

The PTVs are among the 225 units procured in 2022, which are being turned over to various LGUs in batches.

PCSO General Manager Mel Robles said they aim to complete the vehicle donation by Monday, 18 December.

GM Robles added the agency targets to give at least one PTV to each of the nearly 2,000 municipalities in the country.

He disclosed that there are 379 PTV units procured for 2023 and 1,000 more for 2024.

"We assure you this is our solid plan; the pledge of the President nung sinabi niyang dapat dalhin sa mamamayan ang serbisyo," he explained. "There's no other way of bringing that (service) than the ambulances that we have."

"We hope sa pamamagitan nito ay maibaba natin ang serbisyo ng pamahalaan sa lahat ng mamamayan," GM Robles continued.

Each PTV unit costs around P2.2 million, with basic equipment such as a stretcher, oxygen tank, blood pressure monitor, and wheelchair for medical emergencies.

Its main purpose is the fast and safe transport of patients to hospitals.

Meantime, GM Robles also shared that the PCSO has doubled its charity fund for 2024, emphasizing the agency's mandate as the government's charity arm to help Filipinos in terms of financial, educational, and medical assistance, among others.

The PTV donation is under the PCSO's Medical Assistance Program.

PCSO, Hindi Umuurong sa Pagtulong!