Bell-Kenz, DOTr to Expand CPR Readiness Beyond the Frontlines

Bell-Kenz Pharma is taking its life-saving advocacy where emergencies happen most; on the road. Following the launch of its national Sagip CPR campaign last year, the Filipino-owned pharmaceutical company is working with the Department of Transportation to train transport frontliners in hands-only CPR.

The plan was discussed during a coordination meeting on January 29 at The Westin Manila with the DOTr’s Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (SAICT). At the center of the proposal is the integration of Sagip CPR into Oplan Biyaheng Ayos, the government’s road safety program.

Where Emergencies Happen First

Medical emergencies do not choose a place or a time. They happen in public transport, malls, hotels, offices, and other crowded spaces where people move and wait. When they happen, there is rarely a doctor nearby.

More often, it is a bystander who is closest. A commuter. A guard. A passerby. In those first moments, the response of an ordinary person can mean the difference between life and death.

Transport hubs are among the most exposed. Thousands pass through busways, terminals, ports, and airports each day. When someone collapses, the first person to respond often determines the outcome.

According to DOTr-SAICT, cardiac-related incidents occur regularly in these areas, and enforcement personnel are often the first to respond.

“We encounter approximately two individuals per month showing symptoms of cardiac events on busways, overpasses, and terminals,” said Anna Leah Morales, supervising transportation regulation officer representing SAICT under Assistant Secretary Jose F. Lim IV. 

“Our personnel are often the first to reach passengers in distress,” she added.

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Training the Transport Frontliners

The initial phase of the program will train the 400-member DOTr-SAICT enforcement team, deployed on rotating shifts to provide round-the-clock coverage. From there, the initiative will expand to Coast Guard personnel, major bus operators, and terminal staff.

Patrick Larraga, corporate branding and public relations head of Bell-Kenz Pharma, said the transport sector offers the widest reach for the advocacy. “If we want to save lives, we must start where people are,” he said, “This puts CPR readiness into everyday travel.”

A Phased Nationwide Rollout

The rollout will begin in Metro Manila, focusing on high-density transport corridors, before scaling to regional hubs nationwide. The goal is to make life-saving responses part of the daily commute.

With Sagip CPR, Bell-Kenz and the DOTr aim to put life-saving skills in the hands of anyone who might be first on the scene. Every bystander trained is a potential lifesaver, turning ordinary commuters into a network of protection across the country.

About Bell-Kenz Pharma: 

Bell-Kenz Pharma is a Filipino-owned pharmaceutical company dedicated to providing high-quality yet affordable healthcare solutions, including nutritional support like EnPlus Gold 400g (https://tinyurl.com/EnPlus-Gold-400g) to help Filipinos meet their daily health needs. 

Its flagship initiative, Sagip CPR, is a nationwide campaign aiming to train 1 million Filipinos in Hands-Only CPR, empowering communities to respond confidently in cardiac emergencies.

For more information, contact Paula San Esteban at  paula.sanesteban@bellkenzpharma.com

or visit www.bell-kenz.net

Follow @bellkenzpharma on Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok for the latest updates on their advocacy and initiatives.