Sta. Rosa, LAGUNA, Nov. 8, 2025 — Working on a Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)-Ready Barangays in CALABARZON (Calamba, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon); and promoting PHA PUSO MUNA (Pagkain na malusog; Uminom ng maintenance, Sugar ay kontrolin, Obesity ay iwasan, Matulog nang kumpleto, Umiwas sa stress, No to alcohol, Ayawan ang cholesterol) are the top priorities of the Southern Tagalog Chapter (STC) from 2025-2027.
Philippine Heart Association (PHA) STC President Dr. Ray Albert Cabigan made the announcement during the PHA STC 2025-2027 Induction held at the SEDA Hotel in Nuvali.
Cabigan takes inspiration from his predecessors. He said: “Under the leadership of two past STC presidents -- Drs. Jeremias Balgua Jr. and Marion Patricio, the chapter’s Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support Training the last two years had an impressive turnout of 900.”
Dr. Cabigan
“We will continue the project and aim to increase these numbers through collaborations with local/municipal health offices, hospitals, training institutions and NGOs with the goal of making every barangay CPR-Ready,” Cabigan added.
PHA National President Dr. Walid Amil said: “The PHA Southern Tagalog Chapter has always been at the forefront of grassroots action.”
“We will revive the CPR Wheels on Wings (CWW) with our Chapters. And we need to renew the PHA-Department of Tourism (DOT) CWW partnership,” Amil added.
This development came five days after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) expressed amenability to partner with the PHA, the Philippine College of Emergency Medicine, under the Emergency 911 program, at the PHA led-Usapang Puso sa Puso media conference on CPR and Unified 911. Through this collaboration, the PHA can provide expert cardiac emergency guidance to the 911 health emergency frontliners/network of responders.
Dr. Amil
"By combining our advocacy with the Emergency 911 framework, we are creating a stronger, more connected system that ensures no life is lost due to lack of immediate response,” Amil said.
The CWW was conceived as the vehicle of the PHA-initiated CPR-Ready-PH Campaign in 2016. The goal of the joint CWW undertaking between the PHA and the DOT was to transform tourist destinations into CPR-Ready communities and establishments. From 2016 to 2020, CWW produced 1.1 million hands-only CPR minted Filipinos, 80 percent of whom were hospitality industry (tourism/travel, hotel-resort and restaurant) front-liner and workers.
According to the PHA, most of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases happen in public places and in homes, where the witness is not capable of giving prompt hands-only CPR.
Currently, the solar-powered DOT First-Aid Facilities (which includes automated external defibrillators) will soon rise in Puerto Galera, Mindoro and El Nido, Palawan. This DOT project is in collaboration with the Department of Health (DOH) and TIEZA.
STC’s other projects include strengthening the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease by promoting the PHA PUSO MUNA Advocacy; fostering joint educational learnings of Cardiology fellows through workshops with the increasing number of cardiology training programs in the South; and gearing towards establishing strategic partnerships with LGUs and NGOs to counter misinformation and to policies and ordinances that are in line with the PHA National’s scientific and advocacy programs within the reach of the organization.
“I believe that with the amazingly talented members that we have, that many would be able to provide valuable insights and ideas for us to achieve our goals. Together, we can achieve far greater things,” Cabigan said.
The PHA STC 2025-2027 Officers are: Dr. Ray Albert Cabigan, president; Dr. Aldi Igualada,VP -internal; Dr Louie Villanueva, VP -external; Dr. Jade Reaño, secretary; Dr. Maji Azcarate -treasurer; Dr. Nena Bello Rivera, auditor; Dr. Sharon Guinto, PRO; Dr. Marion Patricio, immediate past president.
