Sixteen local government units from Agusan del Sur, Cagayan, and Nueva Ecija received Patient Transport Vehicles (PTVs) from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office as part of ongoing efforts to improve emergency healthcare services in underserved communities.

The official turnover and blessing ceremony was held on 2 May 2025 at the PCSO Main Office in Mandaluyong City, led by PCSO General Manager Melquiades Robles, Chairman Felix Reyes, and Directors Imelda Papin, Janet Mercado, and Jennifer Guevara.

The donation was made under the PCSO’s Medical Transport Vehicle Donation Program (MTVDP), which supports local governments in strengthening their healthcare systems by addressing the urgent need for reliable medical transport.

Among the recipients were the city of Bayugan and the municipalities of Bunawan, Esperanza, La Paz, Loreto, Prosperidad, Rosario, San Francisco, San Luis, Sibagat, Sta. Josefa, Talacogon, Trento, and Veruela in Agusan del Sur, as well as the municipalities of Iguig in Cagayan and Peñaranda in Nueva Ecija.

Robles emphasized that access to emergency healthcare remains a top priority for the PCSO under the leadership of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “Ang hangarin po ng Pangulo ay mabigyan ng ambulansiya ang bawat bayan sa bawat sulok ng Pilipinas, bilang patunay ng maayos at epektibong serbisyo ng pamahalaan,” he said.

Each donated PTV helps improve the mobility and response time of rural health units and barangay health workers, especially in geographically isolated or disaster-prone areas.

Since the start of the Marcos administration, PCSO has distributed a total of 674 patient transport vehicles to local government units across the country through the MTVDP. The initiative continues to benefit thousands of Filipinos who rely on government support for medical care and transportation.

“PCSO, Hindi Umuurong sa Pagtulong,” remains the agency’s guiding principle as it expands its health and welfare programs nationwide. From assisting individual patients to supporting LGUs with critical medical equipment, PCSO reinforces its role as a partner in building a more responsive and inclusive public healthcare system.