PCSO expands medical transport support for Visayas communities through Cebu turnover

by Info @Brand Zone | June 25, 2025

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More communities in the Visayas are set to benefit from improved access to medical transport as the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) turned over eighteen (18) Patient Transport Vehicles (PTVs) to ten (10) provinces during a ceremony held in Cebu City.

The turnover supports President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s healthcare agenda of bringing quality healthcare services closer to every Filipino, especially those in areas where access to hospitals and medical facilities remains a challenge.

Under PCSO’s Medical Transport Vehicle Donation Program (MTVDP), the PTVs were turned over to the provinces of Cebu, Bohol, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Samar, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor.

The 18 PTV units are intended to help local government units safely and efficiently transport patients to healthcare facilities, particularly in remote and underserved communities.

With this latest turnover, PCSO has now distributed a total of 1,731 Patient Transport Vehicles to provinces, cities, municipalities, and government hospitals nationwide.

PCSO General Manager Melquiades A. Robles led the ceremonial turnover with beneficiary-governors and local officials. 

Robles said the donation of PTVs reflects PCSO’s continuing commitment to convert revenues from its gaming operations into programs that directly serve the public.

“At PCSO, we remain steadfast in our commitment to serve and fully support President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s agenda of bringing essential services closer to the Filipino people, because helping them is both our mandate and our responsibility. The Patient Transport Vehicles that we are turning over will help bring healthcare services closer to those who need them most, especially those living in remote and underserved communities,” Robles said.

He added that the impact of PCSO’s programs is most felt when assistance reaches communities at critical moments.

“When patients are brought to the hospital on time, when communities receive better services, or when families are given hope in times of need, we see the true value of our shared efforts,” Robles said.

Apart from the PTV turnover, PCSO also facilitated the ceremonial release of Lotto LGU shares for the period of July to December 2025 to select local government units in the Visayas.

The Province of Cebu received ₱694,180.45; Eastern Samar, ₱276,825.94; Leyte, ₱1,095,531.25; Northern Samar, ₱986,794.95; Negros Oriental, ₱253,414.53; Siquijor, ₱53,737.56; and the City Government of Cebu, ₱2,169,768.96.

The allocations form part of PCSO’s mandated distribution of lotto revenues to local government units, which may be used to support various local programs and services.

The Cebu activity followed PCSO’s June 24 turnover in Iloilo City, where nine (9) Patient Transport Vehicles were distributed to five Western Visayas provinces: Iloilo, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, and Negros Occidental. Together, the Iloilo and Cebu turnovers formed part of PCSO’s broader Visayas distribution of PTVs aimed at helping local governments provide more responsive and accessible healthcare services to their constituents.

PCSO said the Cebu turnover underscores the agency’s continuing efforts to strengthen healthcare access through partnerships with local government units and to ensure that its programs reach communities that need them most.