MINERVA BC NEWMAN
CEBU CITY – Some 18 Toyota Next-Gen Tamaraw converted to ambulances under the Medical Transport Vehicle Donation Program (MTVDP) of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) were turned over to 10 local government units in the Visayas today, June 25 at the Toyota-Mabolo Branch in Cebu City.
“So, we are now distributing ambulances per province in the Visayas region to wit; Provinces of Cebu, Bohol, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Samar, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Negros Oriental and Siquijor,” said Yvonne Bala, Toyota-Mabolo Sales Manager, in a side interview at the event.
Toyota-Mabolo in Cebu has already completed distributing ambulances to the different cities and municipalities all over the Philippines. These are Toyota Hi-ace Commuter Deluxe/Tamaraw with a 2.8 engine and each unit costs P2.2M to P2.3M and comes with stretcher, oxygen tank, wheelchair, BP monitor, first-aid kit, medicine cabinet, Bala shared.
All of the recipients chose Toyota because of its durability, reliability, and if you are going to bring these vehicles to the provinces, it would be easy to maintain, even like a local mechanic knows how to maintain a Toyota vehicle, Bala added.
PCSO general manager, Melquiades Robles bared that PCSO has been doing multiple turnover ceremonies for Patient Transport Vehicles (PTVs) in the Visayas under the Medical Transport Vehicle Donation Program (MTVDP) of the Marcos administration, and the Tamaraw + Hi-ace models are the main units Toyota supplies.
Toyota Motor PH pledged five Next-Gen Tamaraw units converted to ambulances for the PCSO/PBBM’s “Lab for All” program in Oct 2024. Most PCSO PTVs before were Toyota Hi-ace Commuter Deluxe. Toyota is now shifting some donations to the new Tamaraw platform, Robles added.
Why Toyota is the best vehicle for PCSO’s MTVD program, Bala shared that Toyota vehicles are quality, durable and reliable. Toyota calls it “Toyota Sure Advantage”. Former PCSO GM Royina Garma thanked Toyota for its high-quality vehicles that that can be converted to PTVs.
The Hi-ace/Tamaraw is built for rough Philippine roads in remote areas, easy maintenance and parts are available everywhere, any mechanic can repair it anywhere. Critical for LGUs in far-flung Visayas islands, PCSO said.
According to Toyota, LGUs with these PTVs get accessible care and maintenance via Toyota’s dealer network. They can book PMS online via myToyota app. For 10 provinces across Visayas islands, this means no need to ship vehicles to Manila for repair.
The PTVs are designed for patient and medic comfort. The Toyota Hi-ace Commuter Deluxe/Tamaraw can navigate even remote areas while providing comfort during travel. High roof, wide doors, flat floor equals easier loading of stretchers and medical staff movement inside, Toyota said.
Toyota has proven track record and cost efficiency. PCSO has already procured 300+ Hi-ace units from Toyota since 2021, then shifted to Tamaraw. PBBM said that as long as the LGUs take care of these vehicles, they can last and continue serving the people.
The bottom line is that these PTVs are not about speed or luxury. For PCSO’s MTVDP, it’s about: Will these ambulances start after 5 years of rough roads, floods, and island barangays? Can a town mechanic in Samar fix it? Can parts arrive fast?
“Toyota Tamaraw/Hiace ticks all those boxes, which is why PCSO keeps ordering them,” Bala conclude.