DIWA Partylist Rep. Michael Edgar Aglipay wants students in the secondary level to be knowledgeable in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

He filed House Bill 853 or the proposed CPR Instruction Act to incorporate CPR training in the Physical Education curriculum in public and private secondary schools.

In pushing for the measure, Aglipay cited the Department of Health statistics showing that 20 percent of all deaths are caused by cardiac diseases.

“In fact, approximately half of all deaths from heart diseases occur as sudden cardiac arrest,” Aglipay said in his explanatory note.

He pointed out that cardiac arrest can happen anytime to anyone, anywhere.

“When a victim suffers from cardiac arrest, they have but a few short minutes before brain damage, organ damage or even death occurs. The CPR which rescue breathing coupled with chest compressions buys the victim the time that may be required to save their life,” the lawmaker said.

The measure directs the Department of Education to mandate all secondary schools to incorporate in their respective physical education curriculum CPR training using nationally recognized training courses.

The DepEd will give funding to public secondary schools for CPR training and educational materials.