Bell-Kenz Pharma, Cebu City LGU, Philippine Coast Guard, and DOH Team Up to Launch Sagip CPR Philippine Nautical Highway

Ahead of the National Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Day, Bell-Kenz Pharma rolled out its flagship advocacy project, Sagip CPR, in Cebu City on July 15 as its first stop in its Philippine Nautical Highway project together with the Cebu City Local Government Unit, Philippine Coast Guard, along with representatives from the Department of Health.

The launch of the flagship project’s Philippine Nautical Highway initiative, which coincided with Bell-Kenz Pharma’s 20th anniversary, will further bolster its goal of equipping one million Filipinos with Hands-Only CPR and basic emergency response skills to provide immediate response during critical moments before medical personnel arrive.

With its long history of trade and maritime connectivity, Cebu City occupies a strategic location at the heart of the Philippine archipelago, creating greater opportunities for commerce and tourism.

“Ang gusto naming gawin, baybayin itong islands from north to south. Magkaroon ng training in key ports in our country, including Cebu of course being the heart of the Philippines,” said Mr. Patrick Larraga, Corporate Branding and Public Relations Head of Bell-Kenz Pharma.

The Philippine Nautical Highway spans the country’s western, central, and eastern maritime corridors, strengthening inter-island connectivity, facilitating the movement of people and goods, supporting regional growth, and promoting national integration.

In its report, the Asian Development Bank noted the economy stimulation in Roxas, Oriental Mindoro following the opening of Dangay Port wherein its passenger traffic grew by 745%, cargo traffic rose by 1,780%, and rolling vehicle traffic grew from 9,269 to 75,517 from 2003 to 2008.

Building on these opportunities, Bell-Kenz Pharma aims to equip communities along these routes with CPR and emergency response skills, which will help in fostering greater confidence among travellers and promote safer and more prepared destinations.

The training was led by Dr. Alexis Dimapilis, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Health Manager of San Lazaro Hospital and National Course Director for Basic Life Support, who equipped participants with Hands-Only CPR skills and shared practical guidance on responding to cardiac emergencies.

Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival, together with Philippine Coast Guard Rear Admirals Roben De Guzman and Agapito Bibat, also expressed their support for the initiative, underscoring the importance of strengthening emergency preparedness and equipping frontline personnel and communities with life-saving skills.

“We hope that as we go forward in this training, you will have the best knowledge nga inyong makuha so that ato ma-share sa uban mga tao (so that you can share it with others),” Mayor Archival said in his introduction speech.

For his part, Rear Admiral De Guzman expressed his gratitude to Bell-Kenz Pharma for initiating the milestone event, emphasizing that through initiatives such as Sagip CPR “the country will be a safer place whether we are on the road, in our schools, or workplaces, or even places of vacation.”

About Bell-Kenz Pharma:

Bell-Kenz Pharma is a Filipino-owned pharmaceutical company dedicated to providing high-quality yet affordable healthcare solutions. For more information, contact Xander Ceballos at xander.ceballos@bellkenzpharma.com or visit www.bell-kenz.net.