Philippine gaming regulator PAGCOR said Monday it has donated 16 new patient transport vehicles (PTVs) to local government units and public institutions to help improve medical transport and emergency response services.
The PTVs were turned over in two ceremonies on 14 and 15 October at the PAGCOR Corporate Office in Pasay City, the regulator said.
On 15 October it distributed eight PTVs to Quezon Province; Cordon, Isabela; the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) National Headquarters; Titay, Zamboanga Sibugay; Toledo City, Cebu; Bakun, Benguet; Bulakan, Bulacan; and Tago, Surigao del Sur.
PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco said the donations would help recipient communities respond more promptly to medical emergencies and other healthcare needs.
“Through these PTVs, we hope to help our partner institutions respond more quickly to the medical needs of the communities they serve,” Tengco said.
John Francis L. Luzano, head of the Environment and Natural Resources Office of Quezon Province, added that the PTVs would help address the transportation needs of residents in remote municipalities.
“We are very grateful to PAGCOR for this additional patient transport vehicle,” Luzano stated. “Some municipalities are at least five hours away from the provincial hospital, so this donation will greatly help us provide much-needed transport services to our communities.”
Earlier, on 14 October, PAGCOR turned over eight PTVs to beneficiaries identified by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
The recipients were Guimaras State University; the National Bureau of Investigation; the BFP Caraga Regional Headquarters; the Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Center in Mountain Province; Labuan General Hospital in Zamboanga City; Butuan Medical Center; and the Bureau of Corrections, which received two units.
Dr Jesse Fernandez, Medical Chief of Labuan General Hospital, said the donated vehicle would help their hospital transport patients during emergencies.
“Our hospital is 25 kilometers from the city center, so this vehicle will be a big help, especially during emergencies. We are very thankful to PAGCOR for this much-needed donation,” he said.
The eight PTVs distributed on 14 October are part of the 70 vehicles funded by PAGCOR under its partnership with PCSO. Under the agreement, PCSO identifies the beneficiaries and oversees the distribution of the vehicles.
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