Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Melquiades Robles on Monday thanked President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for leading the distribution of the Patient Transport Vehicles (PTVs) to local government units (LGUs) in Eastern Visayas.

In his remarks during the turnover ceremony held in Ormoc City, Leyte, Robles likened the PCSO donation of PTVs to winning the lottery, without even buying tickets.

“Noong minsan nagbiro ako, para manalo sa PCSO bibili po kayo ng ticket. Ito ho, hindi na kayo bibili ng ticket. Panalo na po kayo ngayon. Maraming salamat Mr. President,” Robles said.

President Marcos led the turnover of 124 PTVs from PCSO to LGUs in Eastern Visayas. Joining the President were Robles, Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres Gomez, Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez, and other government officials.

The PTVs were distributed under the PCSO Medical Transport Vehicle Donation Program (MTVDP), which targets full coverage for all 1,642 LGUs nationwide by the end of 2025.

Robles said President Marcos had ordered him to bring the government health services closer to the people.

“And what better way than bringing these patient transport vehicles or ambulances para po sa inyo. We are now hitting our 75 percent goal of cities and municipalities in just the middle of the term,” Robles said, adding that by the end of this year, 100 percent coverage is possible.

Robles said President Marcos had ordered that government services should not be politicized, and that all LGUs must be given an equal chance to avail of these services.

“Malinaw po sa amin ang utos ng Pangulo na huwag pong politikahin ang pagbigay ng health care. Dahil ang sakit po, lahat po ay dinadapuan niyan, kakampi ka man or kalaban, hindi po namimili ‘yan,” Robles said.

“They do not distinguish, and in like manner, the government… the administration under the Bagong Pilipinas, you don’t even have to come to us. Kami na po ang pumupunta sa inyo,” Robles said. | PND