To enhance the medical emergency response capabilities in remote areas, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) recently donated patient transport vehicles (PTVs) valued at 16.2 million Philippine pesos (approximately 276,000 US dollars) to eight municipal governments on Luzon and Palawan islands.
PAGCOR announced the completion of this donation on June 10, with beneficiaries including Rosario and Cuenca in Batangas province, San Mateo in Isabela province, Bola on Mindoro Island, and Dumaran, Brooke's Point, Magsaysay, and Coron on Palawan Island.
Each transport vehicle is equipped with standard equipment needed to handle medical emergencies, including a GPS navigation system, oxygen cylinders, emergency stretchers, wheelchairs, and first aid supplies, to meet the basic needs of local residents when medical resources are scarce.
Alejandro Tengco, Chairman and CEO of PAGCOR, stated that the core goal of this donation program is to establish a stronger emergency response mechanism at the grassroots level. "In many rural areas, medical facilities are sparse and hospitals are far away. The deployment of these vehicles will significantly enhance the ability of local governments to handle emergencies and could directly save lives."
The transfer ceremony took place at PAGCOR's headquarters in Pasay City, attended by municipal representatives and medical officials from the beneficiary towns. Officials present expressed that the configuration of these vehicles is of great significance to local residents. For example, in Dumaran, Palawan, it takes more than six hours for residents to reach the nearest major hospital, and the donated vehicles will significantly alleviate this predicament.
This initiative is part of PAGCOR's ongoing efforts to give back to the community and strengthen public service infrastructure, with a particular focus on improving accessibility and emergency response capabilities in areas with weak medical resources.
