Thank you very much to the Special Assistant to the President, Secretary Anton Lagdameo. [Please take your seats.]
PCSO Chairman, Chairman Felix Reyes; the PCSO General Manager Mel Robles and the other members of the Board of Directors who are here with us; our host city for today’s activities Manila City Mayor Maria “Honey” Lacuna- Pangan; Patient Transport Vehicles beneficiaries, nandito ‘yung mga iba’t ibang mga alkalde natin nagre-represent doon sa kanilang iba’t ibang rehiyon at ‘yung iba napunta na rito dahil ayaw na nilang hintayin at ida-drive na nilang pauwi itong mga ating bagong mga transport vehicles. [applause] Kaya nakita naman ninyo hindi — ‘yung malaking susi na binigay ko hindi lang symbolic ‘yun may susi talagang nakadikit doon. Kaya totoo na talaga ito. My fellow workers in government; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen, magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat.
It is always a good day when we come together for the purpose of improving the welfare of ordinary Filipinos.
I lead today the turnover of these Patient Transport Vehicles to our 129 LGUs beneficiaries.
A key initiative of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, the Medical Transport Vehicle Donation Program builds on our thrust to improve healthcare access and provide swift medical intervention, especially in vulnerable communities and geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.
The Philippines is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire and therefore is in the pathway of some of these volcanic activities, also in the way of the storms, encountering an average of 20 tropical cyclones every year.
These past weeks, we have already witnessed heavy rainfall caused by typhoons enhanced by monsoon rains. So while we try to weather these storms, it is crucial we always prepare for the hazards and the potential disasters that come with it. That level of preparedness is the primary matter that brings us together this morning.
The Medical Transport Vehicle Donation Program aims to deliver Type II Advanced Life Support Ambulances, PTVs, [and] Sea Ambulances, particularly to underserved regions.
Specifically, we will be giving these PTVs to provincial, city, and municipal governments to help ensure that their constituencies will be given the chance to pull through whenever they need these assets for the rescue, for the healthcare of those who have become victims to these natural calamities.
These vehicles are vital resources to support our heroes in the medical field — our first responders — kasama diyan siyempre ‘yung ating mga healthcare workers, ngunit nangunguna diyan talaga ang mga LGU. They will provide timely medical intervention by transporting patients to hospitals. Many times, these vehicles make the difference between life and death.
Although we all share the same hope that none of us nor our loved ones should ever be in need of an ambulance, we welcome and greatly desire their presence in our communities.
My heartfelt gratitude goes to PCSO for embarking on this endeavor.
Since our first day in office, over 200 LGUs have now benefited from this program.
I was also informed that you are set to procure even more PTVs to ensure that every single municipality in the Philippines will be equipped with two vehicles each. [applause]
It is a vision worth every ounce of effort, so I enjoin each of you to stand firm, to press on until we turn this aspiration that we have into reality, and we certainly can do it.
While we still face numerous challenges in our healthcare system, this program aids us in elevating the quality of healthcare in the country.
No matter how many hospitals and health centers we build, no matter how many medical health professionals we employ, and no matter how much equipment we acquire, it would all be devoid of meaning and purpose if patients cannot reach them in moments of need.
I reiterate that the most effective and life-changing impact can only happen when we genuinely put the welfare of our fellow Filipinos on the top of our priorities.
I expect that every LGU beneficiary will use these vehicles responsibly and efficiently, and I urge the PCSO, the LGUs, and other agencies to continue creating programs and projects that will bring life and security to everyone.
I am confident that we can build a Bagong Pilipinas where no Filipino will be left behind—be it in healthcare or in any other opportunity to live meaningful, prosperous, and healthy lives.
It is what our people need, it is what Filipinos truly deserve.
And what you see here are 129 of the present 300 vehicles that are now with the PCSO. Wala pang kalahati ito doon sa napaalis na, nai-deliver na ng PCSO sa iba’t ibang bayan sa buong Pilipinas. At ipinapangako sa atin ni GM Mel na magkakaroon ng isang libo pa lahat-lahat ay isang libo para lahat ng [applause] — lahat nga ng bayan, lahat ng lungsod, lahat ng probinsya ay magkakaroon nitong ating ambulansya or Patient Transport Vehicles na ginagamit.
Ang instruction ko talaga noong kami ay bagong upo, ang instruction ko talaga kay GM Mel ay sabi ko sa kanya, alam mo pagka pinag-uusapan ang ambulansya, healthcare na ‘yan. Buhay na ng tao ‘yan. Dapat huwag nang pinupulitika ‘yan. Dahil alam ko naman ang sistema [applause] na noong governor ako kung malakas ka, makakakuha ka ng ambulance. Kung hindi ka malakas ay mababa ka sa listahan. Kaya ika ko hindi naman dapat pinupulitika ang healthcare system natin. Kaya’t siguro ang malaking pagbabago rito ay hindi na kayo pupunta sa PCSO, o sa akin, o sa governor ninyo, o kung kanino senador na kaibigan ninyo, congressman niyo, sabihin niyo, “paki-usap naman wala kaming ambulance.” Antayin na lang ninyo na may ambulansyang darating sa inyo. [applause] Hindi niyo na kailangan… Dahil nga ay — paulit-ulit ko naman na nasabi ito galing naman talaga ako sa LGU kaya’t naintindihan ko ang… At itong ‘pag sina — itong maga
Ang pagpili nitong modelo na ito na ambulansya ay talagang inisip namin nang mabuti mayroon talagang maganda na malalaki, na mamahalin at halos ospital na ang laman nung ambulansya ngunit hindi praktikal doon sa mga maliliit na bayan. Dahil na-experience namin ito na mayroong kaming napaka — dinonate (donate) ng mga nurse at saka doktor na Ilokano sa California, nag-donate sila ng dalawang malaking, ganda-ganda na ambulansya. Noong mag-emergency, hindi makapasok doon sa maliliit. At ang ginagawa sinasakay namin ‘yung pasyente sa tricycle bago ilalabas para isakay ulit sa ambulansya. Kaya’t ito ay bagay na bagay sa Pilipinas ito. Madaling ayusin kahit ‘yung mga mekaniko sa — may mga mekaniko sa probinsya na… Sanay ito dahil maraming piyesa, maraming — madaling ayusin ito. Kaya’t praktikal ang ating pagpili nitong modelo na ito.
Kaya’t iyan ang ating hangarin na talaga naman ay maramdaman ng taong-bayan na kahit papaano sana nga hindi mangangailangan ng itong mga ambulansya. Ngunit kung dumating ang araw na may pangangailangan sila na ambulansya, nandiyan at mayroong magamit at gumagana. Kasi nga ‘yung mga iba napakaganda nga, mga anim na buwan lang, after six months hindi na tumatakbo dahil walang piyesa, hindi natin alam ayusin. Ito simple lang at praktikal para sa ating mga LGU.
So that is what we are doing today. And that is why I am very, very happy because it is a true service to the people. It is removed from political color, it is removed from all of these political forces which unfortunately we all know was the way it was conducted before. So, palitan na natin ‘yan at tingnan natin lang hindi na kung sino ang mga magkakampi, kung sino ang mga kaalyado. Kalimutan na muna natin ‘yan. Asikasuhin muna natin ang taong-bayan. [applause]
Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat. Mabuhay ang Bagong Pilipinas! Maraming salamat at magandang umaga po.
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