ILOILO City – Emergency medical transport in Western Visayas has received a major boost.
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) turned over nine Patient Transport Vehicles (PTVs) worth P19.251 million to six provinces in the region, a move aimed at ensuring faster access to hospitals, particularly for patients in geographically isolated and underserved communities.
PCSO general manager Melquiades Robles led the turnover ceremony at Casa Real de Iloilo recently, where governors from Iloilo, Aklan, Capiz, Antique, Guimaras and Negros Occidental formally received the new vehicles under the agency’s Medical Transport Vehicle Donation Program.
Each province in Western Visayas received two patient transport vehicles, while Negros Occidental was allotted one unit. Each vehicle costs P2.139 million.
Personally receiving the vehicles were Iloilo’s Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., Antique’s Gov. Paolo Everardo Javier, Capiz’s Gov. Fredenil Castro, and Guimaras’ Gov. Lucille Nava.
Robles said the initiative reflects the shared commitment of the national and local governments to improve healthcare delivery across the region.
“This is a testament to what can be achieve when national and local governments work together for the welfare of our people. These patient transport vehicles represent our shared commitment to making healthcare services more accessible especially for those living in communities where transportation can mean the difference between receiving timely medical care and missing it all together,” Robles said.
Prompt and comfortable transport can spell the difference between life and death during emergencies, he stressed.
“Sa PCSO alam naming nakapahalaga ng mga mabilis at maayos na pagdadala ng mga pasyente sa hospital. Sa panahon ng emergency bawat minuto ay mahalaga, kaya naman ang mga sasakayan pinagkakaloob natin ngayon ay hindi lang po mga sasakyan. Ang mga ito ay magiging daan upang mas maraming buhay ang matulongan. Mas maraming pasyente mahahatid sa tamang gamutan at mas maraming pamilya ang mabigyan ng pag-asa,” Robles added.
Defensor thanked the PCSO and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for providing the new vehicles to Western Visayas provinces. He expressed hope that the provincial government and the PCSO would further expand their collaboration in healthcare, housing and other public service programs.
The turnover formed part of the PCSO Medical Transport Vehicle Donation Program, which is providing a total of 27 patient transport vehicles to 15 provinces across the Visayas to strengthen local healthcare systems and emergency medical response capabilities.
The event also featured the distribution of local government shares from PCSO lotto revenues, as mandated under Executive Order No. 357-A.
The Province of Iloilo received P656,693.28, while Iloilo City received P1,287,475.54. Executive Assistant Jay Treñas accepted the city’s check on behalf of Mayor Raisa Treñas.
The PCSO said the lotto revenue shares are intended to fund priority healthcare and social service programs of local government units./PN
