ILOILO (PIA) – Officials of local government units (LGUs) in Western Visayas (Region 6) expressed gratitude to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for providing them with Patient Transport Vehicles (PTVs), which would help ensure their swift response during calamities and emergencies.
The president led the distribution of 51 PTVs on Sept. 19 in Passi City, province of Iloilo, together with Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Melquiades A. Robles.
“This [is] built upon our thrust to improve our people’s access to health care, especially in vulnerable communities and geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas,” the President said.
He also emphasized the need for prompt actions in times of emergencies, noting that the PTV could help a lot, especially in far-flung areas.
He also underscored the importance of swift medical intervention in response to calamities and emergencies that have affected the country, citing that the national government aims to provide timely and safe transportation of patients to and from medical facilities.
“Each PTV is equipped with a stretcher, oxygen tank, and blood pressure monitor, among other medical equipment. We are making sure that no Filipino is left stranded without help,” the president said.
He also urged the local officials to ensure that these vehicles reach the farthest communities and deliver what they have promised—reliable health care for every Filipino.
Recipients of the PTVs included: Aklan (4 units); Antique (7 units); Guimaras (3 units); Iloilo (18 units); and Negros Occidental (19 units).
In the province of Antique, Mayor John Lloyd Pacete of the municipality of Bugasong thanked the president for giving them the PTV, considering the geographic locations of the barangays in his town. He said the provision of the PTV is a big help, especially to far-flung barangays needing patient transport to local health facilities or in San Jose, Antique.
Meanwhile, Iloilo Provincial Administrator Raul Banias recognized the pivotal help of these new PTVs, particularly in bringing patients to medical facilities during emergencies.
Banias said, “Dako nga bagay nga gintagaan sang 18 patient transport vehicles ang province of Iloilo halin sa PCSO because we know and the governor fully understands that ang criticality and cruciality sang time sa pagtransport sang aton pasyente pakadto sa medical facility.”
(This is a big deal that Iloilo province was given 18 patient transport vehicles from PCSO because we know and the governor fully understands the criticality and cruciality of time in transporting patients going to the medical facility.)
He added that for LGUs that may want to upgrade these PTVs into ambulances, the provincial government is ready to help them get a license to operate from the Department of Health (DOH).
Culasi Mayor Jose Jeffrey Lomugdang said, “Ang benepisyo nga mabaton naton sa PTV ang isa ka dako nga bulig para sa aton nga referral system. Isa man ka dako nga pribelehiyo nga maka angkon man ang banwa sang Culasi sini tungod isa ini ka pinaka importante nga equipment sa bilog namon nga panerbisyo tungod kabuhi sini ang iya ginadala.”
(The benefits we could get from the PTV are big, especially for our referral system. This is also a big privilege for the Culasi town as this is the most important equipment in the entirety of our service as this [PTV] carries lives.)
He added that this will also help, especially those in need of being transported to the hospital so they could avail of the services they need.
Mayor Liecel Mondejar-Seville of New Lucena, Iloilo, extended gratitude to the president for the provision of one unit of PTV for their municipality.
Seville said, “Salamat gid kay ini nga patient transport vehicle will help our constituencies, especially those in need, nga mas mangin madasig pa gid ang amon pagrespond sa mga kinahanglanon sang aton mga pasyente, because of this access nga may sakyan na sila dayon.”
(Thank you very much, as this patient transport vehicle will help our constituencies, especially those in need of a faster response for patients, having now vehicle access.)
Passi City Mayor Stephen Palmares expressed appreciation that their city has been chosen once again to be the venue of the president’s project distribution.
“I am very happy that it is not only Passi City but the entire Region 6 that benefits from this distribution. This will really help, malaki itong tulong sa amin, sa lokal na pamahalaan, especially in transporting patients going to Iloilo City,” said Palmares.
“Sa ating pangulo, kay President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., taos-puso po akong nagpapasalamat sa inyo at sa lahat ng agencies, sa PCSO at sa DAR [Department of Agrarian Reform] for having this activity in our city. God bless po at mabuhay ang Bagong Pilipinas!,” he added.
(To our president, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., I wholeheartedly thank you and all the agencies, the PCSO and DAR, for having this activity in our city.)
Apart from the turnover of PTVs held at the Paloma Plaza in Passi City, President Marcos also led the distribution of e-titles and certificates of land ownership award (CLOAs) to agrarian reform beneficiaries in a separate venue in Passi City. (AAL/LMLE/AGP PIA VI with reports from LGU Bugasong)
