PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco (center) poses with officials and representatives from the 12 LGUs that received new Patient Transport Vehicles from the agency on October 21, 2025 at the PAGCOR Corporate Office in Pasay City.
Twelve local government units (LGUs) across the country have received brand-new Patient Transport Vehicles (PTVs) from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), strengthening local emergency response capabilities and healthcare access.
The turnover ceremony, held Tuesday, October 21, at PAGCOR’s Corporate Office in Pasay City, was led by PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco. The recipients included the municipalities of Calumpit (Bulacan), Baras (Rizal), New Bataan (Davao de Oro), Bugallon (Pangasinan), Toboso (Negros Occidental), Sultan Kudarat (Maguindanao del Norte), Burgos, Laoag, Bacarra, Sarrat, and Pasuquin (Ilocos Norte), as well as the City of Navotas.
Each PTV is designed to function as a fully equipped mobile medical lifeline—complete with a GPS navigation system, ambulance stretcher, medical oxygen, wheelchair, and first aid kit—allowing for safe and efficient patient transport to hospitals and healthcare centers.
“These vehicles are not merely means of transport,” Tengco said. “They are lifelines that can spell the difference between life and death for those in need of urgent medical attention, especially in far-flung or disaster-prone areas.”
Local officials welcomed the donation, emphasizing its importance in improving local healthcare delivery.
New Bataan Mayor Atty. Mar Bianca Cualing-Brua said the vehicle arrived at a crucial time, as her municipality continues to recover from recent earthquakes that struck parts of the Visayas and Mindanao. “When calamities strike, LGUs often have to rely on their own limited resources for emergency services. Donations like this are vital to our preparedness and response,” she noted.
Toboso Mayor Richard Jaojoco also underscored the impact of the donation on remote communities. “This will be a huge help for dialysis patients and those needing immediate care. Our residents often have to travel long distances to reach hospitals, so this PTV truly saves lives,” he said.
Since February 2025, PAGCOR has distributed a total of 142 Patient Transport Vehicles nationwide, including 70 units recently turned over to the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), as part of its continuing efforts to enhance the country’s healthcare and disaster-response network.