Some
45 brand-new Nissan NV350 Urvan vans
converted into type-2 advanced life support ambulance units are to be
turned over to numerous health facilities and hospitals around the archipalego by the
Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
Those who will be receiving the new vehicles include Amang Rodriguez Medical Center (Marikina City), Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital (Manila), East Avenue Medical Center (Quezon City), Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center (Manila), National Center for Mental Health (Mandaluyong City), National Children’s Hospital (Quezon City), Philippine OrthopedicCenter (Quezon City), Quirino Memorial Medical Center (Quezon City), Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (Muntinlupa City), Rizal Medical Center (Pasig City), San Lazaro Hospital (Manila), Tondo Medical Center (Manila), Lung Center of the Philippines (Quezon City), National Kidney and Transplant Institute (Quezon City), Philippine Children’s Medical Center (Quezon City), Philippine Heart Center (Quezon City), and Valenzuela Medical Center (Valenzuela City).
Leading the turnover ceremonies, which was held at Camp Crame, Quezon City, were
PCSO Chair Anselmo Simeon Pinili and
General Manager Royina Garma.
"The PCSO has always been a firm advocate of efficient health services to the Filipino people, especially those who have little resources to spend on their medical and health care. We will never waver from this commitment as we reaffirm our dedication in providing free but quality assistance to the public," Garma was quoted as saying.
The donation of the medical transport vehicles is one of the PCSO’s programs to equip local government units, government hospitals, municipal health offices, and other health facilities all over the country to respond to the needs of patients, especially from poverty-stricken areas.
The program underscores the importance of a reliable and functional ambulance for emergency transport of sick patients and stresses the value of quick access to health care.
Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, chief of the PNP Directorial Staff,
Dr. Gerardo Aquino Jr., Medical Center Chief II of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, and
Brig. Gen. Eriel Niembra, commander of Presidential Security Group, accepted the keys of the ambulance units on behalf of their health facilities.
