President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving healthcare access nationwide, announcing that all local government units (LGUs) will receive at least one patient transport vehicle (PTV) by the end of this year.
The President made the statement during a ceremonial turnover of PTVs to Luzon-based LGUs held at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila. The event was attended by local officials, including Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Mel Robles and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno.
“To those who have yet to receive their PTVs, my promise and my instruction is that by the end of 2025, we should say that all cities and municipalities in the country have a PTV,” Marcos said. “Because in this administration, every Filipino has the right to accessible medical services.”
According to the PCSO, at least 387 PTVs are allocated for distribution across Luzon. Region I will receive 30 units, Region II will get 72, Region III is set for 99, Region IV-A will have 27, Region IV-B is assigned 60, Region V will obtain 64, and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) will get 35 units.
The PCSO clarified that while the ceremonial distribution was held this year, the actual rollout of these vehicles in Luzon is scheduled to begin in 2026. However, Marcos stressed that the full nationwide distribution—including those intended for Visayas and Mindanao—should be completed before the end of 2025.
The President also confirmed that 123 PTVs are slated for delivery to LGUs in Eastern Visayas, while 105 units are set to be distributed across Mindanao.
From July 2022 to June 2025, a total of 680 PTVs have already been deployed nationwide. Of this number, 567 units were delivered in just the first half of 2025 through the PCSO’s Medical Transport Vehicle Donation Program.
Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro earlier emphasized that the initiative fulfills Marcos’ campaign promise to equip all 1,642 cities and municipalities with medical transport support, particularly those in underserved and remote areas.
Each PTV comes equipped with essential medical tools, including a stretcher, oxygen tank, and blood pressure monitor, enabling safer and faster patient transport.
The program is jointly implemented by the PCSO, Department of Health (DOH), and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). President Marcos had previously approved a P2.2-billion budget for the procurement of 1,000 PTVs, reiterating that timely access to emergency care is vital to realizing the administration’s universal healthcare goals.