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Philippine Heart Association marks National CPR Day

Grant Abraham Mondejar · Jul 18, 2026, 1:29 AM

Philippine Red Cross volunteers and participants perform a hands-on cardiopulmonary resuscitation demonstration during National CPR Day at Risen Garden in Quezon City Hall on Friday. — PHOTOGRAPH BY analy labor FOR DAILY TRIBUNe

The Philippine Heart Association (PHA) joined local officials in Taguig on Friday to train dozens of community health workers in hands-only CPR, marking National CPR Day and the 10th anniversary of the country’s landmark resuscitation law.

The event, “ZapPinas 26,” brought together heart health advocates and residents at the Barangay Rizal Covered Court.

It commemorated the passage of Republic Act 10871, also known as the CPR Act of 2016 or the “Samboy Lim Law,” which mandated CPR training in high schools nationwide.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared 17 July as National CPR Day three years ago, aligning with the 11th year of the PHA’s broader “CPR-Ready Philippines” campaign.

Former Pampanga Representative Yeng Guiao, who authored the legislation and now serves as head coach for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the PBA, spoke at the event about the law’s inception and urged continued support for public cardiac training.

During the session, medical experts taught residents how to respond to sudden cardiac arrest using hands-only CPR and demonstrated how to operate automated external defibrillators (AEDs).

A total of 100 local health workers completed a practical CPR demonstration led by Dr. Raymond G. Olazo. Community leaders said Barangay Rizal is also working to install an AED in the neighborhood for emergency public use.