President Marcos Rolls Out Patient Transport Vehicles in Luzon

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.

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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.

Luzon receives the most units so far

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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.

Part of a nationwide push for better health access

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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.

What each vehicle includes

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.

Why it matters for travellers too

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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.

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A quiet but important step for health and safety

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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.