THE Philippine Heart Association (PHA) urged the government anew to fasttrack the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) bill during the "PHA Usapang Puso sa Puso (UPP): Rhythmic Tales: CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) Law and AED" forum.

An advocacy project of the PHA, the latest UPP served as a preconvention event of the 54th annual Convention and Scientific Meeting at Edsa Shangri-La Hotel on May 28, 2024.

The CPR Law was a significant leap forward but it's the AED bill that's now playing catch-up in the marathon of legislative processes. Despite various versions being filed in both houses of Congress, the bill's progress had been — to put it mildly — arrhythmic.

Rep. Anthony Golez Jr., representing Sen. Bong Go, expressed his full support for the enactment of the bill, saying, "CPR is something close to my heart. Years back as a young doctor, I delivered a baby and performed CPR on the woman after prematurely giving birth on my flight from London to Manila. Knowing your program and your group, I am going back to this advocacy."

The PHA, along with its allies from Congress and the Department of Health, aim to synchronize their efforts and get this lifesaving bill off the ground to ensure every public space in the Philippines is AED equipped, making heart health emergencies more survivable for every Filipino.