PCSO gives Visayas LGUs new medical rides

By Mariela Angella Oladive

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office turned over nine patient transport vehicles to five provinces in the Visayas on June 24 during a ceremony at Casa Real de Iloilo at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol.

The donation was made under the PCSO Medical Transport Vehicle Donation Program, which provides medical transport vehicles to local government units at the provincial, municipal and city levels.

PCSO General Manager Melquiades A. Robles led the turnover, which was attended by local chief executives from Iloilo, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras and Negros Occidental.

Iloilo, Antique, Capiz and Guimaras each received two units, while Negros Occidental received one vehicle.

Each patient transport vehicle costs PHP 2.139 million, bringing the total value of the nine donated vehicles to PHP 19.251 million.

Receiving the vehicles on behalf of their provinces were Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. of Iloilo, Gov. Paolo Everardo Javier of Antique, Gov. Fredenil Castro of Capiz and Gov. Ma. Lucille Nava of Guimaras.

Robles said the donation aims to improve access to health care services, particularly for patients who need emergency transport and medical referrals.

“We are very happy that we are able to bring these transport vehicles to enhance the health mobility capacity of local governments. Access to medical transport boosts healthcare delivery. I hope the recipient LGUs will be able to better serve their constituents,” Robles said.

The vehicles are expected to strengthen local health care systems by helping ensure patients can be transported safely and promptly to medical facilities.

The support is especially crucial for underserved communities, where access to reliable emergency transport remains a challenge.

Defensor thanked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the PCSO for the assistance, saying the new vehicles would help improve health care services in the province.

He also expressed optimism for future collaborations between the Iloilo provincial government and the state gaming agency.

The event also featured the release of local government shares from PCSO lotto revenues pursuant to Executive Order No. 357-A.

Executive Order No. 357-A amended Executive Order No. 357, which approved the allocation of a share for local government units from the Lotto Charity Fund.

The province of Iloilo received PHP 656,693.28, while the Iloilo City government received PHP 1,287,475.54.

Jay Treñas, executive assistant to Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas, accepted the city’s check.

The lotto revenue shares are intended to support priority local programs, particularly those related to health care and social services.