PHA renews calls for DepEd to fully implement Samboy Lim Law

The Philippine Heart Association (PHA) on Tuesday urged the Department of Education (DepEd) anew to fully implement a law that requires basic life support to be taught in schools.

The PHA made the call in their Usapang Puso sa Puso media conference and cited the need to implement Republic Act 10871 or the Basic Life Support Training in Schools Act, or the “Samboy Lim Law.”

The measure lapsed into law in July 2016 during the term of then President Benigno Aquino III.

The PHA said they have constantly followed up on its implementation since then, but claimed that there was no movement on the part of DepEd.

“We’ve been knocking on the doors of DepEd and we’ve set meetings with them. Hindi naman kami supposedly [meant] to implement. They were already given the mandate to implement the law. In fairness naman, we’ve heard that they already have the IRR,” said Dr. Don Robespierre Reyes, chair of the PHA Council on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

(We’ve been knocking on the doors of DepEd and we’ve set meetings with them. We are not meant to implement it. They were already given the mandate to implement the law. In fairness, we’ve heard that they already have the IRR.)

In January 2022 during the term of then Education Secretary Leonor Briones, the DepEd issued its implementing rules and regulations for RA 10871 that covers all public and private basic education schools, including alternative learning systems learning centers.

The IRR said the DepEd will include training programs developed by the Department of Health (DOH), PHA, and the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC).

The mandatory basic life support training will include guidelines for emergency cardiovascular care and psychomotor training to support age-appropriate instructions. Basic life support training will be also included in the health and physical education curriculum.

However, Reyes expressed frustration over what they perceived as delays in the full implementation of the law named after Filipino basketball player Samboy Lim, who collapsed after an exhibition game in November 2014 and slipped into a coma. He died in 2023 at the age of 61.

“I just feel, as one organization who really pushed for the passage of the law, we feel frustrated because nine years have passed and yet di pa naituturo (it has not yet been taught). With this frustration, we cannot just wallow in our sadness. That’s why we have launched projects partnering with DepEd,” he said.

Reyes added: “The ball game, nasa kamay na po yan ng (it’s in the hands of) DepEd and all we can do is knock on their doors and [say] ‘Hey, what about CPR. The Samboy Lim law?’ Maybe the new DepEd secretary may now give some priority with the implementation of this law.”

Meanwhile, the PHA official added that they shared that their partner projects with the DepEd while waiting for the implementation of the law, including training for teachers.

GMA News Online has reached out to the DepEd for comment on the PHA’s appeal and will publish their reply once available. — JMA, GMA Integrated News