President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday, July 9, vowed that all 1,642 local government units (LGUs) in the country will each receive a patient transport service vehicle (PTV) by the end of 2025.
Speaking at the turnover ceremony at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila, Marcos said the initiative ensures that no community is left behind when it comes to access to basic health services.
“To those who have yet to receive their PTVs, my promise and instruction is that by the end of 2025, we should say that all cities and municipalities in the country have a PTV,” the President said. “Because in this administration, every Filipino has the right to accessible medical services,” he added.
387 PTVs Turned Over to Luzon LGUs
During the event, a total of 387 PTVs were handed over to LGUs across Luzon. The breakdown is as follows: 30 units for the Ilocos Region, 72 for Cagayan Valley, 100 for Central Luzon, 27 for Calabarzon, 59 for Mimaropa, 64 for the Bicol Region, and 35 for the Cordillera Administrative Region.
This is part of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office’s (PCSO) Medical Transport Vehicle Donation Program, which equips LGUs and hospitals—especially in vulnerable areas—with essential medical transport.
Since July 2022, 680 PTVs have already been distributed nationwide, with 567 of them deployed since January 2025. A P2.2 billion budget has been allocated for 1,000 units.
For Routine, Non-Emergency Patient Transport
Unlike ambulances, PTVs are designed for non-emergency medical transport. They cater to patients needing assistance for scheduled checkups, routine visits, or hospital discharges.
Each unit comes with a stretcher, oxygen tank, blood pressure monitor, and other basic medical tools. Use of emergency blinkers or sirens is not allowed.
Palace officials said the program fulfills the President’s pledge to provide every city and municipality with the necessary tools to support community-level healthcare.
