Third District Rep. Kristine Alexie Tutor launches the patient transport vehicle (PTV) service for the residents of the third district of the province.

The service launch, done on Nov. 6, 2020, is a welcome project as expressed by the residents of the third district since this will surely benefit the people in the said area.

The service, personally initiated and owned by 3rd district Rep. Tutor, features four (4) PTV transportations, which are soley funded either from the personal money of Rep. Tutor or through donations from anonymous persons. These donors have opted to remain anonymous and have placed the ownership of the vehicles under the solon’s name.

In a telephone interview on Friday, Rep. Tutor told The Bohol Tribune that no government funds were used in the acquisition of the PTV transportations as well as no government funds will be involved in the operation and conduct of the PTV program.

The solon has stressed that the PTV is her program without any aid, assistance or funding coming from the government.

The PTV service project, the solon added, is under the program dubbed as Oplan Tabang.

She clarified that the PTV is not meant as an emergency response vehicle or an ambulance.

It is meant to provide transportation to indigent patients who need to go to places for their medical check-up or follow up check-up.

The transportation will also be used to bring people from the hospital of confinement back to their homes as soon as they are discharged from the hospital.

Moreover, the vehicle may also be used to bring indigent patients to a government place/office where they would want to transact business in relation to their health needs.

Rep Tutor also said that the PTVs will be stationed in four (4) strategic areas in the third district to cover different towns.

One (1) PTV will be stationed in Candijay town to be managed by the local government unit (LGU) of Candijay and will serve the residents living in Candijay, Guindulman, Anda, Mabini, Alicia. 

The mayor of Candijay town is Christopher Tutor, the husband of the third district representative.

On the other hand, the PTV stationed in Loboc is designated to cater to the needs of residents living in Loboc, Sevilla, Bilar, Loay and Lila. The Loboc PTV will be under the stewardship of the local government unit of Loboc under Mayor Leon Calipusan.

Furthermore, the vehicle that will be based in Sierra Bullones is allotted to serve Sierra Bullones, Pilar, Carmen and Batuan. The vehicle will be under the care of the Sierra Bullones town government helmed by Mayor Simplicio Maestrado Jr.

Moreover, the PTV that is based in Jagna town will cater to the towns of Jagna, Duero, Garcia Hernandez, Valencia and Dimiao. A trustee in the said town acts as the steward of the PTV.

The transport service is free of charge and will be available for the indigent patient via a booking system.

Rep. Tutor said that folks who can avail themselves of the services are indigent patients, persons with disability (PWD), senior citizens, indigent and non-ambulatory patients, and patients with special needs.

The same group of people may book the PTVs if they need to follow up their financial assistance with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

“Always share your blessings with others for these will always come back to you a thousand-fold. For always, Kumbati!” Rep. Tutor said.

Meanwhile, Rep. Tutor said that her Pabahay program remains active and still provides low-cost housing to some indigent families in the third district.

The program started as a personal advocacy of Rep. Alexie and her husband Mayor Christopher to provide homes to indigent families.

The program started in Candijay town and has been replicated in other towns in the third district.

To date, there have been 72 homes provided to indigent families in the third district, and majority of the beneficiaries are in Candijay town.