MINI MARVEL. PCSO General Manager Mel Robles turns over an ultra- modern portable AI X-Ray Unit to Vice Admiral Jose Ma. Ambrosio Ezpeleta during a recent simple handover ceremony at PN Headquarters in Manila. ( PCSO Media Bureau)
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office has delivered a major boost to maritime healthcare after turning over five battery-powered, ultra-portable AI X-ray units to the Philippine Navy—a first-of-its-kind medical capability within the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
The turnover ceremony was led by PCSO General Manager Melquiades Robles and received by Vice Admiral Jose Ma. Ambrosio Ezpeleta, highlighting a shared push to bring advanced diagnostics closer to sailors operating far from shore.
“These units are built for the realities of naval operations,” Robles said. “They are designed to move with our sailors—from isolated coastal stations to ships deployed in the open sea—where access to hospitals is not always possible.”
Each unit weighs only 2.4 kilograms, a sharp contrast to conventional X-ray systems that require permanent installations and stable power supply. Fully battery-operated, the devices are optimized for shipboard use and emergency scenarios, ensuring that medical teams can perform imaging even in the most challenging maritime conditions.
What sets the equipment apart is its built-in artificial intelligence, which provides immediate diagnostic insights. This allows Navy medical personnel to assess injuries and illnesses on the spot, supporting faster clinical decisions when minutes can determine outcomes.
The absence of dependence on fixed power sources further strengthens medical readiness during long deployments, disaster response missions, and humanitarian operations, where electricity and medical infrastructure are often limited or unavailable.
Robles explained that the donation was funded through PCSO’s Medical Equipment Donation Program, made possible by public patronage of PCSO gaming products. “Every peso entrusted to us must translate into real public value. This project does exactly that—saving lives and protecting those who serve, even in the middle of the ocean,” he said.
Vice Admiral Ezpeleta welcomed the new capability, noting that shipboard diagnostics significantly reduce the need for medical evacuations, which can be risky and logistically complex at sea. With advanced imaging now available onboard, conditions such as traumatic injuries or infectious diseases like tuberculosis can be identified early and managed immediately
PCSO said the initiative reflects its continuing commitment to strengthening institutions that operate in high-risk, resource-limited environments, ensuring that frontline personnel receive the level of medical support they deserve wherever duty takes them.