The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) turned over 82 Patient Transport Vehicles (PTVs) worth about P188.6 million to local government units in the Negros Island Region and Western Visayas on Tuesday, Nov 25.
PCSO chairperson Felix Reyes and general manager Melquiades Robles led the turnover of the ambulances to the mayors at the Bacolod City Government Center grounds.
Of the 82 PTVs, 37 were allocated for the Negros Island Region, with Negros Oriental receiving 22, Negros Occidental – 11 and Siquijor – 4.
Western Visayas received 45 PTVs with Aklan getting 7, Antique – 8, Capiz – 9, Iloilo – 20, and Guimaras – 1.
Robles said each PTV cost about P2.3 million and a second round of distribution of such vehicles is being considered.
“Health care knows no politics, every LGU will get an ambulance,” Robles said.
The turnover is in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to equip every province, city and municipality with PTVs under the Medical Transport Vehicle Donation Program to ensure equitable access to emergency medical care nationwide, he said.
Each unit is equipped with a stretcher, oxygen tank, wheelchair, first-aid kit, blood pressure monitor, and medicine cabinet, ensuring the safe and timely transport of patients to hospitals and emergency facilities, he added.
Robles said they have already distributed ambulances to 98 percent of all of the LGUs in the country.
Bacolod Mayor Greg Gastaya thanked the PCSO officials for all their help to the LGUs.
He said Bacolod had already received two ambulances earlier.
The PCSO also turned over P1.1 million to Bacolod City that will be used by the social services department for its feeding program, Gasataya said.*