The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) has significantly strengthened healthcare services in Negros Island Region and Western Visayas by distributing 82 brand-new Patient Transport Vehicles (PTVs) to local government units.
Major Healthcare Boost for Negros Communities
The official turnover ceremony took place on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at the Bacolod City Government Center, marking a crucial step in improving emergency medical services across the region. The event was attended by key officials including PCSO General Manager Melquiades Robles, Chairperson Felix Reyes, and Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya, along with representatives from various recipient local government units.
Originally, the PCSO had planned to distribute 84 vehicles, but two units could not be delivered due to technical problems caused by Tropical Depression Verbena. Despite this minor setback, the successful turnover of 82 vehicles represents a substantial investment in regional healthcare infrastructure.
Comprehensive Vehicle Distribution Across Regions
Each patient transport vehicle carries a price tag of P2.3 million and comes fully equipped with essential medical equipment to ensure patient safety during transport. The units include stretchers, oxygen tanks, wheelchairs, first-aid kits, blood pressure monitors, and medicine cabinets.
The distribution breakdown shows 45 PTVs allocated to Western Visayas, with specific allocations as follows:
- Aklan: 7 units
- Antique: 8 units
- Capiz: 9 units
- Iloilo City: 20 units
- Guimaras: 1 unit
Meanwhile, Negros Island Region received 37 vehicles distributed among:
- Negros Oriental: 22 units for cities including Bais, Bayawan, Canlaon, Dumaguete, Guihulngan, and Tanjay, plus multiple municipalities
- Negros Occidental: 11 units for cities such as Cadiz, San Carlos, Silay, Sipalay, Talisay, and Victorias, along with several municipalities
- Siquijor: 4 units for the municipalities of Enrique Villanueva, Lazi, Maria, and San Juan
Strengthening National Healthcare Access
PCSO General Manager Melquiades Robles emphasized that these vehicles represent the government's commitment to making quality health services accessible to all Filipinos, particularly those in remote and underserved communities. "Through these milestones, PCSO reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that every community—from the busiest cities to the most remote towns—has access to reliable and lifesaving medical transport," Robles stated during the ceremony.
This distribution is part of PCSO's broader Medical Transport Vehicle Donation Program, which has seen 680 PTVs distributed nationwide since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office in 2022. The agency has allocated P1 billion for procuring an additional 395 vehicles, with the ambitious goal of achieving 100% coverage of all local government units by the end of the year.
The enhanced medical transport capability will ensure safer and more timely transport of patients to hospitals and emergency facilities, potentially saving countless lives in communities that previously lacked adequate emergency medical transportation.
