Empowering Communities: The Samboy Lim Law Marks a Decade of Lifesaving Advocacy

Participants at Rizal Covered Court in Taguig City. PHA recognized the events supporters (holding plaque of appreciation below: Coun. Joy Panga-Cruz, Brgy. Capt. Allan Cruz, and Coach Yeng Guiao. 

“May bago tayong misyon—”buhayin” ang Samboy Lim Law. Kailangan natin itong i-CPR. Kailangan umpisahan ulit ang pagla-lobby para mapondohan na ito ng Department of Education,” Rain or Shine Elasto Painters head coach Joseller “Yeng” Guiao said on July 17, 2026, during the observance of the 3rd National Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Day. 

The former Pampanga congressman is the principal author of the Philippine CPR Act. He reflected on the decade-long journey of Republic Act No. 10871, recalling the vision behind the law and stressing the need for its sustained implementation.
“Sigurado po ako, hindi lang isang buhay ang masasagip natin kapag marunong tayong mag-CPR. Ang mga kabataan, sila ang posibleng magsalba sa buhay ng kanilang mga lolo at lola, nanay at tatay, at iba pang kasama sa bahay kung sila ay may tamang kaalaman sa CPR," Guiao added. 

Coach Yeng Guiao:" Kailangan natin i-CPR ang Samboy Lim Law. Umpisahan ulit ang pagla-lobby para mapondohan na ito ng DepEd. ” 

Signed into law in 2016, the CPR Act of 2016 or Samboy Lim Law was named after former Philippine Basketball Association star Avelino “Samboy” Lim Jr., who suffered cardiac arrest during a ball practice with fellow PBA players. 
The law recognizes CPR a medical procedure not only reserved for healthcare professionals. Instead, it is a lifesaving intervention that can be performed by ordinary citizens during the first crucial minutes of a cardiac emergency—often before an ambulance or emergency responder can arrive.
It seeks to make CPR education a national priority and empower ordinary Filipinos with the skills to save lives by requiring the integration of Hands-Only CPR into the curriculum beginning in Grade 5, and the conduct of sustained public information and awareness campaigns.

CPR training in action. Below, the use of the AED was also demonstrated. 

CPR Law also designates the Philippine Heart Association as the lead organization in developing and implementing the national CPR training program in collaboration with the Department of Health and other lead agencies.
With the Samboy Lim Law’s vision as urgent as ever, PHA launches CPR-Ready Barangay campaign held at Rizal Covered Court in Barangay Rizal, Taguig City. Simultaneous activities were conducted by the PHA’s 16 chapters, four subchapters, 27 PHA-accredited training institutions, and PHA-accredited CPR training centers across the country, demonstrating a unified effort to expand CPR education nationwide.
The initiative sought to engage barangay health workers (BHWs), officials, tanods, community volunteers, and residents, recognizing that the first person to respond to an emergency is rarely a physician. More often, it is a family member, a friend, a neighbor, or even a stranger who happens to be nearby.

Dr. Gamponia on TV interview

PHA President Dr. Aurora Muriel Gamponia underscored the significance of bringing lifesaving education closer to communities.
“When immediate CPR is provided, it gives the person a chance of survival and hopefully prevents irreversible systemic organ failure. The sooner CPR is given, the less severe the damage and the better the chance that the person can survive and return to an active life,” she said. 

Brgy. Captain Allan Jay Cruz whole-heartedly accepted the invitation for the campaign's first stop noting that barangays serve as the country’s first line of response during emergencies.

“Bilang isang nurse, alam ko kung gaano kahalaga na may isang taong marunong tumulong at makapagsagip ng buhay sa oras ng emergency.”  
“Nang ilapit sa amin ang National CPR Day Training Seminar, hindi kami nagdalawang-isip na tanggapin ito dahil napakalaking biyaya para sa aming barangay," he said. 

PHA Secretary Dr. Luigi Pierre Segundo said “Patuloy kaming nagkakampanya para maipaalam sa publiko ang mga bagong siyensya at tamang impormasyon tungkol sa CPR at sakit sa puso. Ang goal natin, lahat ng Pilipino marunong mag-CPR. Pero mas lalakas pa ang kampanyang ito kung maipapatupad nang buo ang Samboy Lim Law.”
In his closing message, Dr. Eric Oliver Sison, PHA Director III and Advocacy Chair, reiterated that CPR education is a “shared responsibility among government, healthcare institutions, schools, workplaces, and communities, urging Filipinos to become active partners in building a CPR-ready nation.”

This writer (3rd from left) with the PHA and Coach Yeng