President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday (September 10) warned General Manager Mel Robles of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office that the so-called “palakasan” system in the distribution of ambulances to local government units must end.

Marcos issued the warning as he ordered Robles to observe fairness in the distribution of ambulances, saying that political affiliation of local chief executives must not serve as basis for receiving help from the PCSO>

The chief executive led the distribution of 129 ambulances to various local government units under the PCSO’s Medical Transport Vehicle Donation Program (MTVDP) at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park on Tuesday .

He recalled that during the time that he was governor of Ilocos Norte, the palakasan system in the implementation of the MTVDP marred the effectivity of the program.

"Dapat hindi na pinu-politika ‘yan dahil alam ko naman ang sistema na nung governor ako kung malakas ka, makakakuha ka ng ambulance. Kung hindi ka malakas mababa ka sa listahan,” he said.

“Kaya kako, hindi naman dapat pinu-politika ang healthcare system natin (That’s why I said, our healthcare system should not be politicized),” he added.

Recipients of the ambulances were 87 LGUs in Calabarzon, 25 in the Bicol region, eight in Central Luzon, six in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), and three 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 constantly roll out free medical services and specialized equipment.

The President assured LGUs that healthcare would continue to be a priority of his administration.

Each ambulance costs around PHP2.1 million and comes with essential medical tools like a stretcher, oxygen tank, blood pressure monitor, and wheelchair, according to the PCSO.

Marcos said the program would address the need for medical transport vehicles in vulnerable communities, and geographically isolated and disadvantaged regions.

So far, the Marcos administration has distributed 356 ambulances under the donation program.

A budget of PHP2.2 billion was also previously approved by the President for the distribution of 1,000 ambulances to cover all the LGUs.