DOH Eastern Visayas Deploys New Ambulances to Strengthen Health Services in Remote Areas 

PALO, Leyte  — In a move aimed at strengthening the implementation of Universal Health Care (UHC), the Department of Health – Eastern Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH-EV CHD) distributed four (4) new land ambulances to selected Rural Health Units (RHUs) across the region.  

This deployment is targeted to boost medical responsiveness in communities classified as geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs). The acquisition and turnover of the medical vehicles demonstrate the DOH’s continuous support for the administration’s campaign, underscoring the philosophy that “Sa Bagong Pilipinas, Bawat Buhay at Mahalaga” (In the New Philippines, Every Life is Important/Valuable).  

The new fleet of ambulances promises to deliver faster response times and a wider capacity for health services, a critical need especially for remote populations where emergency transport can be the difference between life and death. The initiative directly supports the ongoing mission to solidify the capacity of local governments in delivering timely and quality health services to their constituents.  

The formal turnover ceremony was led by the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP), in collaboration with the DOH Supply Chain Management Service. The event took place over three days, from October 15-17, 2025, at the DOH Warehouse in Marikina City.  

The recipients of the new ambulances represent diverse and critical locations within Eastern Visayas. Local Chief Executives (LCEs) from four specific municipalities were present during the ceremony to formally receive the equipment. These included officials from Silvino Lubos, Northern Samar; Arteche, Eastern Samar; Matuguinao, Samar; and Libagon, Southern Leyte.  

By empowering these local health units, the DOH-EV CHD aims to enhance the foundational pillars of the UHC framework. The distribution is a tangible commitment to ensuring that even the most remote citizens have access to essential, quality health services. The overall objective of the ceremony and the distribution itself was to further bolster the capability of local governments to provide timely and quality health services.  

The delivery of the ambulances acts like planting four new seeds of hope and efficiency across Eastern Visayas. Just as a seed allows a plant to thrive in difficult soil, these new vehicles equip the RHUs to overcome geographical barriers and ensure the delivery of prompt medical care, making the goal of Universal Health Care a concrete reality for residents in previously neglected areas.