SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — For many Kapampangans, the new ambulances turned over by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. are more than just vehicles — they’re lifelines, especially for those in far-flung communities.

Funded by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), the Patient Transport Vehicles (PTVs) are already being credited with saving lives and easing medical emergencies.

“This will really help people like us who have little,” said 76-year-old Remedios Licup of Barangay Calulut.

“I was one of those who benefited from the Capitol’s ambulance. When I got sick, I was brought from Barangay Bulaon to Lubao Hospital. It also helped with costs — my CT scan alone was P6,000.”

Kris Gatdula, a resident of Sasmuan, shared the same sentiment.

“For people like us who don’t have much, this is a big deal. It saves us money on fare and other expenses during emergencies.”

Governor Lilia “Nanay” Pineda thanked the President for the vehicles and emphasized their impact on public health.

“Thank you, PBBM!” she said.

“These ambulances will be crucial in saving lives by getting patients to hospitals quickly when time is critical.”

Pampanga and the rest of Central Luzon received the biggest allocation — 99 out of 387 units distributed across Luzon. Each ambulance is equipped with a stretcher, oxygen tank, blood pressure monitor, and other tools needed for safe emergency response.

Governor Pineda said the new units will significantly cut down response times and improve survival chances in emergencies.

The turnover ceremony — held last Wednesday at Quirino Grandstand in Manila — was the PCSO’s largest single-day distribution of medical vehicles to date.

President Marcos reaffirmed his administration’s push for universal healthcare, vowing that every city and municipality will have at least one medical transport vehicle by 2025.