Residents of Barangay Galalan in Pangil, Laguna, now have access to a dedicated ambulance after LG Electronics Philippines formally turned over a Php1.6-million emergency vehicle to the community on September 22.
The ambulance is the winning project of the 2026 LG Ambassador Challenge, which focused on medical aid and education, with particular attention to maternal and child welfare. It addresses a long-standing need in the mountainous community, where residents previously depended on motorcycles, private vehicles, bicycles, and even garbage trucks to transport sick and injured patients.
In some of Galalan’s most remote areas, getting to a road can be an emergency in itself. Residents of Sitio Gisgis, one of the barangay’s farthest communities, may need to carry patients by hand along a walking trail for 45 minutes to an hour before they can reach a vehicle. A traditional duyan, or hammock-like sling, has also been used to transport patients to the barangay center.
For Nakhyun Seong, Managing Director of LG Electronics Philippines, the project reflects the company’s continuing commitment to supporting community-led initiatives. LG has supported projects proposed through the LG Ambassador Challenge since 2019, with this year’s program placing emphasis on healthcare and education.
“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,” Seong said.
He added that LG was encouraged by the willingness of Galalan residents to work together in addressing a critical need in their community and expressed hope that the ambulance could also benefit neighboring communities facing similar challenges.
For Pastor Ramil B. Repolido, who co-proposed the project and will manage the ambulance, the initiative represents the fulfillment of a long-standing need. Repolido has served the community through missionary work for two decades and has witnessed the difficulties residents face in accessing medical care, with the nearest hospital roughly 20 kilometers away.
“No ambulance trips are made there,” Repolido said, describing how residents have had to rely on whatever transportation was available. When the project was selected, he said the community was grateful for the opportunity to finally address the gap in emergency transportation.
Felix Arbol Jr., a member of the Barangay Council and church elder who helped support the proposal, said the ambulance will provide residents with greater confidence during medical emergencies.
“If we have an ambulance, we are willing to go to the hospital at any time, any day, as long as it’s an emergency. We don’t have to worry about transportation anymore,” Arbol said.
The ambulance will be stationed at the barangay hall and managed locally under Repolido’s oversight. A driver from the barangay health office will assist with transportation, while the Rural Health Center will provide coordination and support for first-aid response. The barangay is also preparing a dedicated parking area to ensure the vehicle can be dispatched quickly when needed.
As LG continues its community-support initiatives, Seong said the company’s priorities will remain focused on children, education, and healthcare, building on projects designed to address practical needs in communities across the Philippines.
