Butuan city: Local chief executives in the Caraga Region praised the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for providing essential health facilities, such as patient transport vehicles (PTVs), to towns and provinces across the Philippines.

According to Philippines News Agency, Marcos spearheaded the turnover of 71 PTVs to various local government units (LGUs) during a ceremony at the Butuan City Sports Complex in Barangay Libertad. The LGUs receiving the vehicles include provinces, towns, and cities in the Caraga Region, as well as Davao de Oro, Davao Oriental, and Misamis Oriental.

"We extend our deepest gratitude to President Marcos for ensuring that our local communities receive adequate health resources to enhance our healthcare capabilities," said Butuan City Mayor Lawrence Fortun during his welcoming speech. Fortun highlighted how LGU heads previously had to manage the transportation of PTVs from Manila to their localities independently, a task now streamlined by the Marcos administration.

The arrival of the PTVs is particularly timely, given the recent series of earthquakes, noted Fortun. He underscored the importance of these facilities in disaster response and the administration's vision of empowering local communities to act swiftly in emergencies.

Agusan del Norte Governor Maria Angelica Rosedell Amante expressed gratitude for the PTVs, emphasizing their role in bridging the gap between medical emergencies and response. She called on LGUs to utilize these vehicles responsibly, with integrity and compassion. Agusan del Norte and its ten towns received PTVs equipped with essential health supplies and equipment.

Surigao del Sur Governor Johnny Pimentel remarked on the initiative's alignment with their 10-Point Development Agenda, specifically the goal of Health Care for All. Seventeen towns and two cities in Surigao del Sur benefitted from the PTV distribution.

Mayors Michael Corilla of San Miguel, Surigao del Sur, and Karen Rosales of Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte, also thanked Marcos and the PCSO for the PTVs, acknowledging their critical role in emergencies due to the distance of their communities from medical facilities, particularly those in city centers.