Emphasizing the importance of the donation to their constituents, mayors and governors from Luzon have expressed heartfelt gratitude to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for providing them with brand-new patient transport vehicles (PTVs) or ambulances.
Through video messages, 43 local chief executives who were among the latest batch of 387 recipients of ambulances relayed their deep gratitude to President Marcos, as well as Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Chairman Felix Reyes and General Manager Mel Robles.
All of them said the ambulances meant a lot, as they could serve more constituents, especially those from far-flung barangays that require medical treatment and healthcare services in hospitals.
“Malaking bagay po ito sapagkat sa tulad ng bayan ko na malayo sa ibang hospitals, ay malaki po ang magiging ambag nito para patatagin pa po ang serbisyo medical sa aking bayan,” said Mayor Greggy Ramos of Cajidiocan, Romblon in one of the messages.
Santo Tomas, La Union Mayor Severino Carbonell said: “Malaking bagay po ito sa amin lalong lalo na wala kaming public hospital sa bayan namin, doon pa sa karatig bayan so malaking bagay talaga.”
The local executives welcomed the timely arrival of the new ambulances, noting that their existing units are either worn out or insufficient to meet current needs.
“Ito po ay napaka-importante sa amin dahil kami po ay isang isla na napakahirap po ng way para makarating po sa aming ospital kaya kailangang-kailangan namin ito,” said Mayor Joey Peñaflor of Torrijos, Marinduque.
As all the local government officials thanked the President and PCSO officials, Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro Mayor Ferdinand Maliwanag said, “Kami po ay naghahatid ng pasyente araw-araw, from Mansalay to Calapan. Three hours po ang biyahe, bale six hours balikan kaya malaking tulong sa amin ito na binigyan kami ng ating Presidente at ating PCSO Chairman and General Manager.”
“Malaking tulong po ito sa aming lugar kasi may malalayo kaming mga barangay sa ospital at konti lang ang mga sasakyan. Although paved na ang mga roads namin, konti lang po ang ambulance namin, bilang lang po, kaya maraming maraming salamat po,” said Pudtol, Apayao Mayor Edmar Pascua in another of the messages.
Naguilian, Isabela Mayor Edgar Capuchino said the PTV given to his municipality would be of great use to his constituents, especially those residing in remote barangays.
“Kailangan pa namin ang ganitong mga bagay para mas mabilis naming maitakbo ang aming mga kababayan lalo na sa vulnerable sector,” Capuchino said in a video message.
During the handover of 387 PTVs at the Quirino Grandstand on Wednesday, the President ordered the PCSO to provide all 149 cities and 1,493 municipalities with PTVs before the end of the year.
Aside from the 387 PTVs for Luzon, President Marcos will also distribute 123 more PTVs to LGUs in Eastern Visayas and 105 in Mindanao.
Through PCSO, the Marcos administration has distributed 680 ambulances from July 2022 to June 2025. | PND
