President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. inspects a Patient Transport Vehicle before its ceremonial turnover to local government units in Northern Mindanao and Lanao del Sur. (Photo: JAKA/PIA10)
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) — Misamis Oriental officials said the rollout of 91 new Patient Transport Vehicles (PTVs) to municipalities in Northern Mindanao and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will help address emergency medical transport needs.
Of the recipient municipalities, 68 received a PTV for the first time.
“It makes all the difference because usually in an emergency, time is of the essence. Our ambulances have already suffered wear and tear. This is very timely—we really need it, and it has arrived. I am very grateful to our national government,” said Villanueva mayor Jennie Mendez
Alubijid mayor Emmanuel Jamis underscored how the vehicles support faster patient transfers during accidents or disasters. “Ang sulti pa ni Gov. Unabia, this is the lifeline of the people, kumbaga sa mga trahedya ug sa mga aksidente mapadali ang paghatod sa mga pasyente sa hospital,” he said.
(As Governor Unabia mentioned, this is the lifeline of the people—during disasters and accidents, it helps speed up the transport of patients to the hospital.)
In Laguindingan, where the airport drives higher public activity, mayor Diosdado Obsioma said the new vehicle meets a growing need. “Daghan na ang mga tao, daghan ang pangitabo nga wala nato gamha, so sakto jud nga naa tay patient transport vehicle na mu-cater jud sa mga tao nga nangihanglan,” he said.
(There are now more people and more incidents, so it’s really right that we have a patient transport vehicle to truly serve those in need.)
The vehicles were distributed under the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office’s Medical Transport Vehicle Donation Program (MTVDP), part of a nationwide initiative to improve local health logistics.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the ceremonial turnover at the Pelaez Sports Complex on April 22. He reiterated the government’s aim to provide each municipality with at least one PTV.
“Ang programang ito ay sagot sa pangangailangan ng ating komunidad; katuparan ng ating pangako na makapag-abot ng maagap at abot-kayang serbisyong pangkalusugan sa bawat Pilipino—nasaan man sila. Ito po ay tugon ng pamahalaang handa, mabilis, at inyong maaasahan,” said the President.
(This program responds to the needs of our communities. It fulfills our promise to deliver prompt and affordable healthcare services to every Filipino—wherever they may be. It reflects a government that is ready, quick to act, and dependable.)
Since its launch in June 2022, the MTVDP has distributed 567 PTVs nationwide. The Marcos administration targets a total of 1,552 units by the end of 2025—enough to cover every municipality in the country. (JAKA/PIA-10)
