Strategic Support for Remote and Underserved Communities
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has once again demonstrated its commitment to social responsibility with the donation of 10 Patient Transport Vehicles (PTVs) valued at PHP 20 million (US$340,000). In a ceremony held on 26 June at its Pasay City headquarters, PAGCOR handed over the medically equipped vehicles to nine local government units and one state university, addressing critical healthcare needs in geographically isolated and underserved regions.
Widening the Healthcare Reach
Recipients of the fully equipped PTVs include several municipalities in Isabela province—Palanan, Quezon, San Isidro, Cabagan, San Mariano and San Pablo—as well as Balabac in Palawan, Tanauan in Batangas, Parañaque City, and Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in Ilocos Norte. The selected locations reflect PAGCOR’s strategy to target areas with significant gaps in emergency medical access, particularly where travel to secondary or tertiary care facilities is time-consuming or logistically difficult.
Each vehicle is fitted with key emergency equipment, including:
A stretcher with mounted restraints
Oxygen tank and first aid kits
A wheelchair
A GPS navigation system for better route management
These PTVs are intended to improve response times during emergencies, especially in isolated rural areas where delays can mean the difference between life and death.
Prioritising Healthcare Under PAGCOR’s Mandate
PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco underscored the agency’s commitment to “bridging healthcare access gaps” through strategic donations. “We want to make sure our gaming revenues translate into tangible benefits for our people, especially those in need of better medical services,” Tengco said during the event.
The initiative is aligned with PAGCOR’s wider remit to reinvest gaming proceeds into healthcare, education, and infrastructure. In recent years, the agency has become a significant contributor to national development by funding public service initiatives, particularly in health and disaster preparedness.
Local Impact and Community Acknowledgment
Local leaders hailed the donation as transformative. Cabagan Mayor Christopher Mamauag expressed deep gratitude, noting the PTV’s potential to “save lives by reducing emergency transport time” in a town where access to advanced healthcare facilities is limited. He pointed out that the donated unit would enhance the local government’s ability to respond quickly to critical medical needs.
Such sentiments were echoed across the beneficiary communities, where these vehicles are expected to alleviate transport challenges, reduce patient mortality risks, and strengthen the overall public health response system.
A Broader Vision for Inclusive Development
This donation exemplifies PAGCOR’s vision of using gaming revenue to serve the public good. In a country where healthcare access remains a challenge in many rural areas, initiatives like this not only uplift community morale but also help build resilience in public service systems.
With this latest healthcare intervention, PAGCOR continues to play a pivotal role in ensuring inclusive development, bringing life-saving services to the nation’s most vulnerable and overlooked populations.
