Our favourite places to stay on this sleepy Cebu island.
Here’s something you do not see every day at Quirino Grandstand in Manila. Hundreds of shiny, brand-new patient transport vehicles, all ready to head out and serve different provinces in Luzon. It was not a car show, though. It was President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. leading the biggest rollout of medical vehicles the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) has ever done in one day.
Also read: Talaba Station Added to LRT-1 Cavite Extension Plan
The goal? To help more Filipinos in need of emergency transport, especially in places where even a single functioning ambulance is hard to come by.
Image credit: nquirerdotnet | X official account
During the turnover ceremony held on 9 July 2025, President Marcos handed over a total of 387 patient transport vehicles, also known as PTVs, to local government units across Luzon. This is the largest one-day delivery of its kind from the PCSO to date.
Here is how the vehicles were distributed by region:
Region I (Ilocos) received 30 units
Region II (Cagayan Valley) received 72 units
Region III (Central Luzon) received about 99 or 100 units
Region IV-A (Calabarzon) received 27 units
Region IV-B (Mimaropa) received 60 units
Region V (Bicol Region) received 64 units
The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) received 35 units
Each one is expected to help communities with limited access to healthcare and emergency services.
Image credit: nquirerdotnet | X official account
This project is not just focused on Luzon. According to the President, the plan is to make sure every city and municipality across the country eventually gets a PTV. So far, PCSO has distributed:
387 vehicles to Luzon
123 vehicles to Eastern Visayas
105 vehicles to Mindanao
That makes a total of 680 PTVs delivered since Marcos took office in July 2022.
The programme is not stopping there. For 2025, PCSO has set aside ₱1 billion to fund the purchase of 395 more vehicles. These are expected to start rolling out by 2026.
These vehicles are more than just vans with sirens. Each one is equipped with a stretcher, oxygen tanks, a first aid kit, a blood pressure monitor and other basic medical tools. They are designed to help during emergencies and make sure patients are transported more safely and quickly.
They might not be full-scale ambulances, but for towns and remote areas that have very limited options, they could make a big difference.
Image credit: nquirerdotnet | X official account
If you love exploring remote provinces or small island towns, this kind of update is actually a big deal. Imagine getting sick or injured while hiking through the Cordilleras or taking a road trip through Mimaropa. Knowing that the local government now has a reliable emergency vehicle can bring peace of mind.
It is also a sign that access to health services is improving, even in areas that are usually off the radar.
Also read: Student Commuting Just Got Cheaper with 50 Percent Fare Discount on LRT and MRT
Image credit: nquirerdotnet | X official account
It may not be as exciting as a new airport or tourist attraction, but this move supports both locals and visitors. Even just one vehicle can change how fast someone gets help in an emergency. And for a country made up of over 7,000 islands, that kind of access really matters.
For travellers, especially those exploring the Philippines beyond the usual tourist spots, it is good to know that help is becoming more accessible. And for local communities, this could be a life-saving upgrade.
So the next time you head out on an adventure, from the beaches of Quezon to the mountains of Benguet, it is nice to know that healthcare support is also moving forward.
Published at
Get our weekly tips and travel news!
Our favourite places to stay on this sleepy Cebu island.
The only plastic we need for travel.
Coffee date on the mountains, anyone?
Looking for a weekend bonding with the family under ₱500? Head to these places, pronto!
Live your best life in Manila, even when you’re riding solo.
Relive the emo era at the Philippine Arena!
Asia’s must-see VR experience of 2025!
Updated screening rules explained
More PAL Flights to Seattle Are Taking Off Soon!
Why AirAsia is holding off on Davao