Bell-Kenz Pharma has launched Sagip CPR, a nationwide campaign that offers free hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training. The program started on August 14, 2025, at PHINMA Cagayan de Oro College with more than 500 students, police personnel, and volunteers trained on the Check–Call–Compress method and the use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the Philippines, claiming 317 lives daily. Nearly half of these are due to Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA), where survival depends on immediate CPR within 4 to 6 minutes. Yet only 2 in 10 Filipinos know how to perform it.
Dr. James Cayetano, President of the Bell-Kenz Foundation, stressed that 8 out of 10 cardiac arrests occur at home, making CPR knowledge among family members vital. Sagip CPR aims to train 1 million Filipinos within a year, ensuring CPR becomes a life skill every household can depend on.
Cardiologist Dr. Francis Lavapie noted that Sagip CPR fills critical gaps left by existing health agencies. While Republic Act 10871, or the Samboy Lim Law, requires CPR education in schools, many students still lack proper training. Sagip CPR responds to this gap by expanding to schools, barangays, and civic groups nationwide.
Aligned with Proclamation No. 511 declaring July 17 as National CPR Day, the campaign seeks to create a network of everyday heroes ready to act in emergencies. Bell-Kenz Pharma envisions communities where help is always within reach.
