“Kailangan tayo daytoy… karo idiay remote communities nga makakaexperience piman ti rigat nga mapan ti hospital” - Governor Edduba on receiving 2 new Patient Transport Vehicles

Tabuk City, Kalinga – Patients in Kalinga who require urgent medical attention and transfer to higher-level hospitals are expected to benefit from two new Patient Transport Vehicles (PTVs) provided by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to the provincial government.

Governor James S. Edduba personally received the two vehicles from PAGCOR Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Alejandro H. Tengco and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Melquiades A. Robles during a turnover ceremony in Manila on June 3.

The vehicles were provided by PAGCOR through the endorsement of the PCSO following the provincial government's request for additional patient transport units.

According to Edduba, the new vehicles will help strengthen emergency medical services in the province by ensuring the safe and timely transfer of patients who require specialized treatment in higher-level healthcare facilities.

He noted that transportation remains a critical challenge, particularly for patients from geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas who often need to travel long distances to access advanced medical care.

“These patient transport vehicles are very important to ensure the safe and timely transfer of patients who need higher-level medical care. Kailangan tayo daytoy kasi adu ti pamilya, karo dagijay adajay remote communities, nga makakaexperience piman ti rigat nga mapan ti hospital, especially during emergencies,” said Edduba.

According to the Kalinga Information Office, the new PTVs will be assigned to the Kalinga District Hospital in Lubuagan and the Western Kalinga District Hospital in Balbalan.

The Kalinga District Hospital serves residents of Lubuagan as well as patients from the neighboring municipalities of Tinglayan and Pasil. Meanwhile, the Western Kalinga District Hospital caters to residents of Balbalan and nearby communities.

With the addition of the two transport vehicles, both hospitals are expected to improve their capacity to respond to medical emergencies and facilitate patient referrals to higher-level healthcare institutions.

Governor Edduba expressed gratitude to PAGCOR and the PCSO for the assistance, emphasizing that the vehicles will help make healthcare services more accessible, especially for residents living in far-flung barangays.

The acquisition of the patient transport vehicles forms part of the provincial government's continuing efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery and improve access to essential medical services for the people of Kalinga.