AT least 1,600 cardiologists belonging to the Philippine Heart Association are hoping President Benigno Aquino III would sign the so-called “Samboy Lim bill” before he bows out of office on June 30.
At a media briefing, Dr. Don Robespierre Reyes, editor-in-chief of “The Heart,” PHA’s official magazine, cited the importance of the enactment of the measure into law in lowering the high incidence of cardiac arrests among many Filipinos.
“I hope you can help us convince the President to pass the bill,” he told reporters as he expressed optimism that the Duterte presidency would heed their call “if Aquino does not sign this.”
“Even if the bill is not signed under Aquino’s term, we [at the PHA] are positive and optimistic, in collaboration with [Philippine] Red Cross and American Heart Association, of its passage,” he said.
Last December, inspired by Philippine Basketball Association legend Avelino “Samboy” Lim, Congress passed House Bill No. 5891 otherwise known as the Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Training Act sponsored by Lim’s colleague Rain or Shine head coach and Pampanga Rep. Joseller “Yeng” Guiao.
“Just recently, the Senate passed on third and final reading the bill,” said Dr. Francis Lavapie, PHA’s Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Council co-chairman. “The question is, who is the president that would sign it.”
“We fervently hope and pray of its early passage into law by the President,” he added.
According to Pag-IBIG president Darlene Berberabe, Lim’s former wife, she visited him at The Medical City to “let him know about the Senate’s approval of the bill.”
“Dad, the Samboy Lim bill will be a law,” she said, adding “I am sure he is very happy that he was able to inspire people and make great contribution to the Filipino people.”
The bill was called the Samboy Lim bill because no one was around to administer CPR on the former pro basketball star when he suffered a heart attack in November 2014.
“He is fighting for his life everyday. (But) his heart is very strong,” Berberabe said. “Even if he is still not able to speak as of now, he is very happy. I thank the PHA.”
According to Reyes, “the lesson is time of the essence. Learn CPR, save a life.”
Dr. Luigi Pierre Segundo, Lim’s internal medicine-cardiologist at The Medical City, said Lim is “a lot better compared two years ago.”
“He laughs, cries appropriately. He can frown and smile,” he said. “We are happy he is regaining some of his faculty functions, but not completely.”