PARAÑAQUE CITY — The nationwide drive to train one million Filipinos in Hands-Only CPR lifesaving skills reached a major public transport hub as Sagip CPR, the flagship advocacy of Bell-Kenz Pharma, conducted hands-on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training at Offix 3 inside the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX).
Held in partnership with the Department of Transportation – Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (DOTr-SAICT) and key stakeholders, the initiative gathered bus drivers, conductors, and transport enforcers for practical training in Hands-Only CPR. The expansion into transport terminals highlights the campaign’s focus on high-traffic areas where medical emergencies can occur and immediate professional care may not always be readily available.
Sagip CPR seeks to equip ordinary citizens with essential basic life support skills, particularly in responding to sudden cardiac arrest. According to Mr. Patrick Larraga, Head of Corporate Branding and Public Affairs of Bell-Kenz Pharma, the advocacy recognizes the critical role transport frontliners play in public safety.
“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 life-saving intervention can begin even before medical professionals arrive.”
The campaign initially focused on senior high school students to maximize the “multiplier effect” of youth engagement. To date, more than 18 institutions nationwide have participated in school-based activations, supporting the mandate to integrate CPR training into the K to 12 curriculum. Studies show that eight out of ten cardiac arrests occur outside hospital settings, often at home, underscoring the urgency of empowering bystanders with CPR skills.
Dr. Luis Raymond T. Go, Medical Director of Bell-Kenz Pharma, said the transport-centered expansion forms 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 to strengthen public health preparedness,” Dr. Go said. “With more than a million Filipinos passing through transport systems daily, equipping enforcers, drivers, and conductors with CPR skills can significantly improve survival outcomes during cardiac emergencies.”
He emphasized that only about two in ten Filipinos currently know how to perform CPR. Without immediate intervention, survival rates decline dramatically within minutes. When combined with the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED), CPR can substantially increase a patient’s chance of survival.
“With peak travel seasons such as Holy Week, when millions are on the move, having trained responders on-site provides an added layer of security and reassurance for commuters,” Dr. Go added.
Dr. James Cayetano, President of the Bell-Kenz Pharma Foundation, described Sagip CPR as a long-term public health investment rooted in urgency. He underscored the critical five-minute window before irreversible brain injury can occur during cardiac arrest.
“Millions pass through transport hubs every day. Training those already on the ground—drivers, conductors, and enforcers—ensures that help is available during 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 trained to date. Through sustained collaboration with government agencies and private partners, Sagip CPR aims to make Hands-Only CPR a common and accessible life skill among Filipinos.
As the campaign moves closer to its one-million target, organizers hope widespread training will foster a culture of readiness—where ordinary citizens are empowered to act decisively and save lives when every
For more information about SAGiP CPR, visit https://www.bell-kenz.net/
