DAVAO CITY – First Congressional District Representative Paolo Z. Duterte personally turned over patient transporters and ambulance trikes to the first selected barangays under the First District on Wednesday, December 8, at Jesus Soriano National High School, Barangay Catalunan Grande.

Rep. Duterte, who sat down with the recipients – barangay leaders, said that those transporters and ambulance trikes aim to address the immediate response of health programs and services in barangays, especially to far-flung communities of the First District.

The first barangays that received two transporters and a trike are Talomo Proper under Captain Bendor Calamba; 76-A Bucana under Captain Roland Trajera; Matina Aplaya under Captain Nestor Cirunay; and Matina Pangi under Captain Benjamin Badon. 

A patient transporter was also turned over to Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) under Erwin Cabana; barangays Baliok under Captain Ricky Liparanon, Bago Gallera under Captain Chelo Canares, Magtuod under Captain Jaime Gorre, and Maa under Captain Pacito Cañete. 

The barangays 2-A under Captain Caloy Garcia, 14-B under Captain Genevieve Arcillas, 22-C under Captain Eduardo Millondaga, 23-C under Captain Alimudin Usman, Dumoy under Captain Jessie Mar Culaste, Catalunan Pequeño under Captain Rodrigo Tangaroo, 21-C under Captain Edmundo Altizo Sr., and 5-A under Captain Edgar Ibuyan Sr. received one ambulance trike.

Rep. Duterte said that he had long been requesting these emergency vehicles from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to no avail. He added that he is grateful to the ACT-CIS Partylist under Congressman Eric Yap and to his friends in China who made these possible instead.

“Pasalamat ko nila nihatag sila. Kanang mga suot-suot na mga lugar labi na Talomo, 76-A, Matina Pangi, at least dali magawas ang pasyente dira. Kita naman ta sa atong mga barangay dili kasulod mga ambulance sa kagamay sa dalan,” Rep. Duterte said in a media conference.

The lawmaker is looking forward for the entire 54 barangays to have the patient transporters and ambulance trikes in time. He added that he and Rep. Yap are doing their best to work with friends and members of Congress to complete the project.

Rep. Duterte arrived at the venue around 10 a.m. The patient transporters and ambulance trikes were blessed in simple rites on Wednesday morning after discussing the matters with the barangay captains, who are very thankful to the lawmaker for his full support to his constituents.