Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said Friday that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s move to fast-track the nationwide distribution of Patient Transport Vehicles (PTVs) is a “game-changer” for local government units (LGUs) and a milestone in strengthening the country’s healthcare system.

“We commend President Marcos for his unwavering commitment to make quality healthcare accessible to every Filipino. The deployment of emergency medical vehicles is not just a policy move – it is a lifeline extended to the farthest barangay, where medical access is too often delayed or denied,” Romualdez said in a statement.

The PTV program is part of a bold national strategy to equip all 1,493 LGUs with fully functional emergency medical vehicles. If completed this year, it would mark the first time that every town and city in the country has at least one government-issued ambulance-type vehicle, ready to respond to emergencies.

“As the first responders in any crisis, our LGUs must be fully equipped. These are not mere transport units – they are instruments of hope and survival,” Romualdez said. “They will bring urgent care to communities where clinics or hospitals may be hours away.”

From January to July, 567 PTVs have been distributed nationwide. Another 985 are set for delivery this year, bringing the total to 1,552 units – more than enough to cover all LGUs, with additional vehicles allocated to high-need or geographically isolated areas.

During the latest handover ceremony, 91 PTVs were given to LGUs in Northern Mindanao and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), in line with the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office’s (PCSO) 2025 rollout under its Medical Transport Vehicle Donation Program (MTVDP).

On Wednesday, Marcos led the ceremonial turnover of 387 PTVs to LGUs across Luzon, marking the largest single-day distribution of medical vehicles.

The MTVDP, powered by a PHP2.2 billion fund approved by the President, stands as a concrete expression of the administration’s resolve to expand universal healthcare and reinforce the country’s emergency medical response capabilities.

Each PTV is equipped with vital life-saving tools, including stretchers, oxygen tanks, blood pressure monitors, and emergency medical kits, enabling front-line responders to stabilize patients before they reach hospitals.

“This is leadership that delivers. President Marcos is building not just infrastructure, but trust, trust that no Filipino will be left behind in an emergency. With every PTV we turn over, we’re bringing government closer to the people, and proving that Bagong Pilipinas is not just a slogan, but a promise kept,” Romualdez said. (PNA)