President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. on Monday appealed to Filipino healthcare workers to stay and serve in the country as part of his administration’s push to strengthen the healthcare system.
He made the call during the distribution of 124 patient transport vehicles (PTVs) in Ormoc City, Leyte for municipalities and cities across Eastern Visayas.
“You know, our nurses and doctors are thinking of leaving and working abroad. But we are encouraging them to stay. They are Filipinos; of course, they want to help their own people,” Marcos said.
The President also highlighted a milestone in local healthcare:
“For the first time in the Philippines, every single municipality and every single city has a doctor now.”
He reiterated his plan to provide all 1,642 cities and municipalities with at least one PTV.
“We have been able to give away 1,173 PTVs. So malapit na, pinapangako sa akin ni Mel [PCSO General Manager Melquiades Robles] that by the end of the year, we will start already the second round,” Marcos added.
The newly distributed vehicles are equipped with essential medical tools, including a stretcher, oxygen tank, blood pressure monitor, and other emergency supplies. They were turned over to local governments in Biliran, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Samar, Southern Leyte, and Leyte.