First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos on Tuesday led the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) during a turnover of 44 Patient Transport Vehicles (PTVs) to local government units in Mindanao, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to accessible healthcare and advancing President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to bring essential services closer to Filipinos.

The turnover at the Libertad Sports Complex in Butuan City forms part of PCSO’s continuing rollout of PTVs nationwide under its Medical Transport Vehicle Donation Program (MTVDP), which supports local governments in strengthening patient mobility, emergency medical response, and access to hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

PCSO General Manager Melquiades Robles said the distribution of PTVs reflects the agency’s commitment to translating charity funds into direct and meaningful assistance for communities.

“Every Patient Transport Vehicle we turn over today represents PCSO’s commitment to bring help closer to our kababayans (countrymen), especially during moments when timely medical response can save lives,” Robles said.

The 44 PTVs were distributed to selected local government units across Mindanao, including beneficiaries from Agusan del Norte, Sulu, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Davao de Oro, Davao Oriental, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, and Tawi-Tawi.

The municipalities of Catarman, Guinsiliban, Mahinog, Mambajao, and Sagay in Camiguin were also among the beneficiaries of the program.

Robles said the continuing distribution of PTVs is anchored on PCSO’s mandate to ensure that proceeds from its gaming operations are returned to the public through concrete health and social services.

“Sa bawat taya, may kawanggawa (Every bet has charity). This is the heart of PCSO’s work. We continue to expand the distribution of these vehicles so that more local government units can be assisted, more patients can be reached, and healthcare services can be delivered more quickly to those in need,” Robles said.

The PTVs are expected to help local governments provide timely patient transport services, especially during medical emergencies. The vehicles may also support local health programs, disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and rehabilitation efforts.

“This turnover is part of our continuing effort to make PCSO’s charity work felt in more communities. We will continue to support the healthcare priorities of the Marcos administration and work with local governments so that more Filipinos can access the help they need, when they need it,” Robles added.

Prior to the Butuan turnover, PCSO also distributed 13 PTV units to seven earthquake-affected provinces, namely Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Cotabato, following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck off the coast of Maasim, Sarangani Province, on June 8. (PNA)