After years of carrying sick and injured residents down mountain trails by hand or using motorcycles, cars, and even garbage trucks, Barangay Galalan in Pangil, Laguna, now has a dedicated ambulance for emergency transport.
LG Electronics Philippines formally turned over the ambulance on September 22 at its headquarters, completing the P1.6-million “Life Saver on Wheels” project that won the 2026 LG Ambassador Challenge.
The ambulance will be stationed at the barangay hall, with Pastor Ramil B. Repolido, who co-proposed the project, serving as its manager. A driver from the barangay’s health office and the Rural Health Center will provide coordination and first-aid support. The barangay is also planning an accessible parking area so the vehicle can be dispatched quickly during emergencies.
For years, Galalan residents had limited options for reaching medical facilities, with the nearest hospital roughly 20 kilometers away. Repolido, who has done missionary work in the community for two decades, said residents often had to rely on whatever transportation was available.
“No ambulance trips are made there,” Repolido said of the area’s transport options. “Most of the time, we see motorcycles, cars, or bicycles and even a garbage truck. That’s what the patients are forced to use.”
The challenge is even greater in Sitio Gisgis, one of Galalan’s farthest communities. Residents there still carry patients along a walking trail using a duyan, a traditional hammock-like sling, before reaching a road. “It’s about a 45-minute to one-hour walk,” Repolido said.
For Nakhyun Seong, Managing Director of LG Electronics Philippines, the project reflects the company’s support for community-led initiatives since 2019. This year’s Ambassador Challenge focused on medical aid and education, particularly maternal and child welfare.
“If you want to support a long-term cause, an ambulance is exactly that. Emergency response is something a community needs for the long run, and that’s a priority for LG,” he said.
