President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday told local government units to make sure the ambulances given to them would last to serve more Filipinos.

In his speech, President Marcos vowed the government will continue providing ambulances, or patient transport vehicles (PTVs) to cover all LGUs across the country.

“Ako’y natutuwa na ating nagagawa ito at patuloy nating [gagawin]. Ang hihilingin ko lang sa ating mga chief executives, sa ating mga LGU heads ay alagaan ninyo, patagalin ninyo,” the President said during the turnover ceremony of 90 ambulances at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.

These new vehicles will be distributed in LGUs in Pangasinan (1), Rizal (1), Negros Oriental (3), Cebu Province (41), Bohol (43), and Northern Samar (1).

The initiative, called Medical Transport Vehicle Donation Program (MTVDP), came from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

The MTVDP seeks to improve healthcare delivery by providing PTVs to LGUs at the provincial, city, and municipal levels. Priorities are underserved areas.

The PCSO also donates PTVs to hospitals, and organizations in vulnerable communities and geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs).

A total of 564 beneficiaries, including LGUs, hospitals and other government agencies, have received the ambulances. They can be used to respond to emergencies, especially in underserved areas. | PND