The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
Twelve local government units (LGUs) across the country received brand-new Patient Transport Vehicles (PTVs) from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), further strengthening emergency medical response capabilities in remote and disaster-prone areas.
The beneficiaries include the municipalities of Calumpit (Bulacan), Baras (Rizal), New Bataan (Davao de Oro), Bugallon (Pangasinan), Toboso (Negros Occidental), Sultan Kudarat (Maguindanao del Norte), Burgos, Laoag, Bacarra, Sarrat, and Pasuquin (Ilocos Norte), as well as the City of Navotas.
Each PTV is equipped with a GPS navigation system, ambulance stretcher, medical oxygen, wheelchair, and first aid kit—ensuring safe and efficient transport of patients to hospitals and healthcare facilities.
Leading the turnover ceremony at PAGCOR’s Executive Office in Pasay City on Tuesday, PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco said the vehicles “are not merely means of transport—they are lifelines that can make the difference between life and death for those in need of urgent medical attention.”
New Bataan Mayor Atty. Mar Bianca Cualing-Brua expressed gratitude for the donation, citing its timeliness following the series of strong earthquakes that recently struck parts of Visayas and Mindanao. “When calamities strike, local governments rely on their own capacities and resources for emergency medical services. Donations like this are crucial,” she said.
Toboso Mayor Richard Jaojoco also thanked PAGCOR, noting that the vehicle would benefit residents from remote barangays with limited access to hospitals. “This will be a huge help, especially for dialysis patients and anyone needing emergency care. We are far from major cities, so having this PTV is truly lifesaving,” he said.
Since February this year, PAGCOR has turned over a total of 142 Patient Transport Vehicles to LGUs nationwide as part of its ongoing corporate social responsibility initiative to enhance public health and emergency response services.