President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Tuesday underscored that the healthcare system in the Philippines should not be politicized.
Marcos made the remark during the distribution of 129 patient transport vehicles or ambulances at Quirino Grandstand. He said these would be distributed to various local government units across the country.
“Ang instruction ko talaga noong kami ay bagong upo, ang instruction ko talaga kay GM Mel (Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager Mel Robles) ay sabi ko sa kanya, alam mo pagka pinag-uusapan ang ambulansya, healthcare na ‘yan. Buhay na ng tao ‘yan. Dapat huwag nang pinupulitika ‘yan,” Marcos said in his speech.
(My instruction to GM Mel was that when it comes to ambulance, that’s healthcare. This is about one’s life. It should not be politicized.)
Marcos said people with influence or those who have connections in local government units (LGUs) easily get ambulances or other medical services.
The ambulance distribution was under the PCSO’s Medical Transport Vehicle Donation Program (MTVDP) that aims to improve the healthcare delivery system in underserved regions.
Marcos distributed one ambulance each to 87 LGUs in Calabarzon, 25 LGUs in the Bicol region, eight LGUs in Central Luzon, six LGUs in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), and three LGUs in Cagayan Valley.
Marcos said the ambulances would provide swift and secure transport of patients to healthcare facilities during emergencies as part of his administration’s plan to provide free medical services and specialized equipment.
“These vehicles are vital resources to support our heroes in the medical field — our first responders —kasama diyan siyempre ‘yung ating mga healthcare workers, ngunit nangunguna diyan talaga ang mga LGU (that includes of course our healthcare workers, but first the LGUs),” Marcos said.
“They will provide timely medical intervention by transporting patients to hospitals. Many times, these vehicles make the difference between life and death,” he added.
Each ambulance is priced at approximately P2.1 million and it comes with essential medical tools like a stretcher, oxygen tank, blood pressure monitor, and wheelchair. —KG, GMA Integrated News
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