President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. turned over at least 71 patient transport vehicles (PTVs) to various local government units (LGUS) in Mindanao during a ceremony in Butuan City on Friday, October 24, 2025.

The newly acquired PTVs will be distributed to LGUs in Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Davao de Oro, Davao Oriental, including Butuan City and Bonifacio, Misamis Occidental.

The vehicles, which are equipped with basic life support equipment, were funded by the Philippines Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

“Hopefully, may second pa po we will dream of giving two each municipality,” PCSO General Manager Melquiades Robles, said.

Local officials said the vehicles will significantly improve emergency response and patient transport, especially in remote areas where access to hospitals remains a challenge.

“Very timely ang pagdating ng mga PTV's na 'to, recently we've been experiencing earthquake every now and then and disasters are becoming frequent,” Butuan City Mayor Lawrence Lemuel Fortun, said.

Marcos said the PCSO rented a roll-on/roll-off (RORO) vessel to deliver the vehicles to their respective provinces.

He added that 76 percent of LGUs nationwide have already received PTVs, with the goal of reaching full coverage before the end of 2025.

“If you do not have a healthy population, you cannot have a happy population, and that is what we need to do. We have to bring the health care down to the people,” Marcos said.

Meanwhile, Marcos also announced a new approach to classroom construction in the country.

Instead of channeling funds from the Department of Education (DepEd) through the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the national government will now directly download funds to LGUs capable of constructing classrooms.

Marcos said this new system aims to prevent ghost and substandard projects.

“Ida-download namin ang pondo sa LGU na kayo na magpatayo ng inyong eskwelahan at nakakasiguro ako, ako malakas ang loob ko sa mga LGU dahil hindi sila mag-ghost project, sisitahin kayo, di niyo pwedeng gawing substandard, pag ginawa ninyo yun araw-araw, mumurahin kayo ng mga constituents,” Marco said.

It can be recalled that DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said during a Senate budget hearing that only 22 out of the 1,700 targeted classrooms for 2025 had been built by DepEd and DPWH.