The local government of Pasig City on Tuesday distributed patient transport vehicles to 27 barangays to enhance health services to residents.

Through the PTVs, barangays can now bring patients with non-emergency medical concerns or outpatient needs to health centers or hospitals without having to compete with the demand for ambulances, which can focus on attending to emergency cases.

City Health Officer Dr. Joseph Panaligan said the deployment of PTVs was inspired by the city government's experience during the Covid-19 pandemic, when residents with non-Covid sickness and mild-Covid cases were having a hard time in getting to health facilities due to the high demand for city and barangay ambulances.

The 27 PTVs were acquired through the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund by the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office upon the request of the barangays.

Like the fire trucks distributed to barangays in September 2023, the PTVs feature an inverter with oxygen concentrator, siren and blinkers.

DRRMO chief Bryant Wong said free preventive maintenance service will also be provided onsite when the mileage of the PTV reaches 20,000 kilometers.

Meantime, Mayor Vico Sotto expressed his confidence not only on the quality of the PTVs, but likewise on the equipment that came along with the vehicle.