PARAÑAQUE CITY — A nationwide effort to equip one million Filipinos with Hands-Only CPR skills took another significant step forward as Sagip CPR, the flagship advocacy of Bell-Kenz Pharma, rolled out hands-on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training at Offix 3 within the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), one of the country’s busiest transport terminals.
The initiative, held in partnership with the Department of Transportation – Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (DOTr-SAICT) and other stakeholders, brought together bus drivers, conductors, and transport enforcers for practical instruction in hands-only CPR. The expansion into transport terminals underscores the campaign’s focus on high-traffic areas where immediate professional medical care may not always be readily available.
Sagip CPR aims to equip ordinary citizens with basic life support techniques, particularly for sudden cardiac arrest cases. According to Mr. Patrick Larraga, Head of Corporate Branding & Public Affairs of Bell-Kenz Pharma, the advocacy recognizes the importance of empowering transport frontliners who regularly interact with large numbers of people.
“Our goal is to build a nationwide network of everyday lifesavers,” Larraga said. “By training transport frontliners—especially those assigned along major commuter routes like EDSA—we ensure that in moments of emergency, intervention can begin even before medical professionals arrive.”
Larraga noted that the campaign initially concentrated on senior high school students to harness the “multiplier effect” of youth engagement. To date, more than 18 institutions have been reached through nationwide school activations, aligning with the legal mandate to integrate CPR training into the K to 12 curriculum. He cited data showing that eight out of ten cardiac arrests occur outside hospital settings, often at home, underscoring the urgency of widespread public training.
Dr. Luis Raymond T. Go, Medical Director of Bell-Kenz Pharma, said the transport-focused expansion is part of the company’s broader Kaagapay Project and its GPCPR initiative.
“While we are committed to providing affordable and high-quality medicines, we also recognize our responsibility toward public safety,” Dr. Go explained. “More than a million Filipinos pass through transport systems daily. Strengthening preparedness among enforcers, drivers, and conductors can significantly improve outcomes during cardiac-related emergencies.”
He emphasized that currently only about two out of ten Filipinos know how to perform CPR. Without immediate intervention, survival rates drop dramatically within minutes. When combined with the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED), CPR can substantially increase the chances of survival.
“With peak travel seasons like Holy Week, when millions are on the move, having trained responders on-site provides an added layer of security for commuters,” Dr. Go added.
Dr. James Cayetano, President of the Bell-Kenz Pharma Foundation, described the initiative as a long-term public health strategy rooted in urgency. He pointed to the critical five-minute window before brain injury can occur during cardiac arrest, highlighting the importance of immediate bystander response.
“Millions pass through transport hubs every day. Training those who are already on the ground—drivers, conductors, enforcers—ensures that help is available in those first crucial minutes,” Cayetano said.
Beyond transport hubs, the foundation continues to expand its reach to schools nationwide, with 8,000 to 9,000 students already trained. Through sustained collaboration with government agencies and private partners, Sagip CPR aims to transform hands-only CPR into a common life skill among Filipinos.
As the campaign moves closer to its one-million target, organizers hope that widespread training will foster a culture of readiness—where ordinary citizens are empowered to act decisively and save lives when every second counts.
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For more information about SAGiP CPR, visit https://www.bell-kenz.net/
