Cagayan de Oro: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday led the turnover of 91 patient transport vehicles (PTVs) to local government units (LGUs) in Northern Mindanao and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The ceremonial turnover took place at the Pelaez Sports Center, where 85 of the total PTVs were allocated to LGUs in regions including Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, and Lanao del Sur. The remaining six units were distributed to LGUs within the BARMM.

According to Philippines News Agency, the donation of these vehicles aligns with the Marcos administration's commitment to providing prompt and affordable health services across the nation. President Marcos highlighted that out of the 91 recipients, 68 are first-time beneficiaries who have not previously had ambulances or PTVs. He emphasized the importance of assisting those in remote areas who are in dire need of these transport facilities.

The initiative is part of the Medical Transport Vehicle Donation Program (MTVDP) implemented by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. This program aims to enhance the emergency response capabilities of LGUs by supplying state-of-the-art and reliable PTVs. The MTVDP supports the LGUs' mandate under the 1991 Local Government Code to deliver essential frontline healthcare services, facilitating the safe and efficient transport of patients to medical facilities.

Each patient transport vehicle is equipped with essential medical equipment, including a stretcher, an oxygen tank, and a blood pressure monitor, to ensure the timely and safe transportation of patients, thus strengthening the healthcare infrastructure in these regions.