For Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez, President Marcos deserves praise for fast-tracking the nationwide distribution of Patient Transport Vehicles (PTVs), saying it will boost healthcare at the local government unit (LGU) level.

“We commend President Marcos for his unwavering commitment to make quality healthcare accessible to every Filipino,” Romualdez, House Speaker of the 19th Congress, said in a statement Friday, July 11.

“The deployment of emergency medical vehicles is not just a policy move—it is a lifeline extended to the farthest barangay, where medical access is too often delayed or denied,” said the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) president.

The PTV program is part of a bold national strategy to equip all 1,493 LGUs with fully functional emergency medical vehicles—an unprecedented move in Philippine history. If completed this year, it would mark the first time that every town and city in the country has at least one government-issued ambulance-type vehicle, ready to respond to emergencies.

“As the first responders in any crisis, our LGUs must be fully equipped. These are not mere transport units—they are instruments of hope and survival. They will bring urgent care to communities where clinics or hospitals may be hours away," explained Romualdez.

“Hindi dapat maging hadlang ang layo ng tirahan para sa agarang lunas o tulong-medikal. Kaya’t buong suporta ang ibinibigay natin sa mga inisyatibang tunay na naglalapit ng serbisyong medikal sa bawat sulok ng bansa,” the Visayan said.

(Distance from one's home should never be a barrier to timely medical care or emergency assistance. That’s why we give our full support to initiatives that genuinely bring healthcare services closer to every corner of the country.)

As of July, 567 PTVs have been distributed nationwide since January 2025. Another 985 are set for delivery this year, bringing the total to 1,552 units—more than enough to cover all LGUs, with additional vehicles allocated to high-need or geographically isolated areas.

During the latest handover ceremony, 91 PTVs were given to LGUs in Northern Mindanao and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), in line with the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO)’s 2025 rollout under its Medical Transport Vehicle Donation Program (MTVDP).

The MTVDP, powered by a P2.2 billion fund approved by President Marcos, stands as a concrete expression of the administration’s resolve to expand universal healthcare and reinforce the country’s emergency medical response capabilities.

Each PTV is equipped with vital life-saving tools, including stretchers, oxygen tanks, blood pressure monitors and emergency medical kits, enabling frontline responders to stabilize patients before they reach hospitals.

Romualdez reaffirmed the House of Representatives’ full backing for the Marcos administration’s healthcare priorities and vowed continued legislative support to programs that empower LGUs and protect the well-being of every Filipino.

“President Marcos is building not just infrastructure, but trust—trust that no Filipino will be left behind in an emergency. With every PTV we turn over, we’re bringing government closer to the people, and proving that Bagong Pilipinas is not just a slogan, but a promise kept," he said.