4 Reasons We Chose the Philippine Nautical Highway To Do Sagip CPR

In an archipelagic country like the Philippines, ports and maritime routes do more than connect destinations. They also serve as gateways for passengers, goods, tourism, and economic opportunities.

This is the thrust the Philippine Nautical Highway Sagip CPR is built on. The initiative aims to train frontline responders and bystanders with life-saving skills when professional responders are not present during the crucial first minutes of sudden cardiac arrest.

Here are four reasons we chose the Philippine Nautical Highway for the expansion of Sagip CPR:

1. It connects Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao

The Roll-on/Roll-off Ferry Terminal System integrates road and maritime transport, allowing vehicles and their cargo to travel between islands without being unloaded. The network comprises the Western, Central, and Eastern Nautical Highways.

By following these routes, Sagip CPR can reach communities across the country and bring Hands-Only CPR training beyond major urban centres. 

2. Millions of passengers and vehicles use the country’s ports

Philippine Ports Authority data showed that passenger traffic reached more than 69.1 million from January to October 2025, up 5.25% from the same period in 2024. Ro-Ro vehicle traffic also increased by 13.3% to 12.81 million vehicles in 2025.

With millions of passengers, drivers, transport personnel, and workers moving through the system, ports and transport hubs are strategic locations for equipping more people with emergency-response skills. 

3. Immediate CPR can make a life-saving difference

Ischaemic heart disease remained the Philippines’ leading cause of death in 2025, accounting for 135,250 deaths or 19.7% of all registered deaths. This was equivalent to approximately 370 deaths per day, based on the data from the Philippine Statistics Authority.

The high number of deaths from ischaemic heart disease reflects the country’s significant cardiovascular health burden and reinforces the need to equip communities to respond promptly to cardiac emergencies, including sudden cardiac arrest.

The American Heart Association stated that immediate CPR can double or triple a person’s chance of surviving cardiac arrest. 

4. Safer transport corridors can support local economic growth

The Nautical Highway has helped lower transport costs, expand markets, and stimulate local economic activity. 

A report from the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) found that the Ro-Ro system reduced freight transport costs by around 30% and passenger transport costs by approximately 40%, while cutting travel time between Luzon and Mindanao by 12 hours. 

It also increased household income by about 7% in municipalities near Ro-Ro ports.

A more recent PIDS study found that municipalities hosting Ro-Ro ports experienced an average 17% increase in business tax revenues after joining the network, reflecting stronger business activity in these areas. 

By training tourism and hospitality personnel, transport workers, public servants, and community members, Sagip CPR can complement this growth by helping create safer environments for residents and visitors.

Through the Philippine Nautical Highway Sagip CPR initiative, we aim to build a network of CPR-ready communities along the country’s busiest maritime, transport, and tourism corridors–  one place at a time.

SOURCES:

Philippine Institute for Development Studies. (2017). Ro-Ro transport system in PH has positive impacts. https://www.pids.gov.ph/details/ro-ro-transport-system-in-ph-has-positive-impacts 

Philippine Ports Authority. (2025). PPA delivers solid 2025 results, advances major port modernisation projects. https://www.ppa.com.ph/node/22269 

Philippine Ports Authority. (2026). PPA eyes stronger sea cargo growth in 2026. https://www.ppa.com.ph/node/22472 

Philippine Statistics Authority. (2026). 2025 Causes of Death in the Philippines (Provisional as of 31 May 2026). https://psa.gov.ph/content/2025-causes-death-philippines-provisional-31-may-2026 

American Heart Association. (n.d.) CPR Facts & Stats. https://cpr.heart.org/en/resources/cpr-facts-and-stats 

World Health Organization. (2023). World Drowning Prevention Day 2023. https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-drowning-prevention-day/2023 

Kris A. Francisco and Kimberly R. Librero. (2025). Can transport infrastructure reduce inequality in archipelagic economies? Evidence from the Philippine Roll-on/Roll-off Network. https://www.pids.gov.ph/publication/discussion-papers/can-transport-infrastructure-reduce-inequality-in-archipelagic-economies-evidence-from-the-philippine-roll-on-roll-off-network