X
a
IS
IS DATE 26 AUG 2

Republic of the Philippines 5
BY QO
peter oe e. a,"
onstitution Hills, Quezon Cit
oy Wo inner

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No 3973

Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

During many emergencies, every second counts. Survivability can decline as the
clock ticks away. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), "For every minute
that passes between collapse and defibrillation, the chance of survival from a witnessed
Ventricular Fibrillation sudden cardiac arrest declines by seven to ten percent per
minute ifno bystander CPR is provided” (ACLS Guide 2011, 54). This is just one reason
why emergency vehicle response times are paramount for public safety

A trained medical emergency responder may save the life of a stroke or accident
victim but because of lack or no trained medical first responder in the local levels, precious
lives are lost that could have been saved. Aside from the need for trained emergency
paramedic or first responder, mobility is another major issue in view of the monstrous
traffic in highly urban areas since medical first responders are usually, if not generally are
using four-wheeled vehicles or ambulances. But the monstrous traffic we are experiencing
in highly urban centers, such as Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and other cities, the response
time of medical emergency vehicles or ambulances are hampered resulting to serious
injury or even death of a victim or patient.

On the other hand, if monstrous traffic is the problem of emergency paramedics
in urban centers, poor accessibility or lack of good roads is the concern in many parts
of rural Philippines, specifically in the under-served and unserved far-flung and
mountainous areas. Many of our brothers in these far-flung and mountainous areas
suffer serious sicknesses and injuries without being attended to by trained medical
personnel. There may be some areas or communities being served by barefoot doctors
or medical personnel but again, mobility is a major concern for them to provide timely
medical attention to the victims and patients. These committed medical personnel must
walk long distances for several hours if not days just to service these far-flung areas. If
only government, especially the front-line government units in the locality or local
government units can provide the means of transportation adaptive to the particularity
of the terrain of their locality, then we can significantly reduce the response time of our
committed medical personnel or paramedics.

RECEIVED 2
TIME ¢ Pam Le

ns
oO



With motorcycle paramedics or first responders as our front-line medical emergency
responders, we can radically reduce response time and improve patient care while not
entailing high operational costs both in urban centers and far-flung areas, The two-
wheeled motorcycle paramedics can weave through heavy traffic in urban areas or traverse
rough roads in the rural areas can provide timely medical response in cases of emergency.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this measure is sought.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No3973

Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

AN ACT MANDATING ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS AND
HOSPITALS TO PROVIDE FOR MOTORCYCLE MEDICAL EMERGENCY FIRST
RESPONDERS,

SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as “Motorcycle Medical Emergency
First Responder Act”.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. It shall be the policy of the State to promote public
safety and make emergency medical services available to the people especially those in
need of emergency medical services and give priority for the under-served and unserved
communities.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms
shall mean:

a. Basic Life Support (BLS) - is as a variety of non-invasive emergency
procedures performed to assist in the immediate survival of a patient,
including cardiopulmonary resuscitation, hemorrhage control, stabilization of
fractures, spinal immobilization, and basic first aid.

b. Motorcycle paramedic or first responder - an emergency medical first-line
responder that provides basic life support to a patient or victim of an injury
or trauma before the arrival of an emergency medical technician and ambulance
that will transport the patient/victim to a hospital or medical institution.

¢. Standard motorcycle riding equipment ~ includes helmet and protective
clothing such as riding jacket, gloves, boots and pants.

SECTION 3. Responsibility of the Local Government Unit. ~ The local government
units are hereby mandated to establish motorcycle paramedic unit as part of the
emergency medical service of their local health unit that provides emergency medical
response to patient or victim of injury or trauma; and to reach far-flung areas that are
under-served or unserved communities.


The motorcycle paramedic unit/s shall be equipped with motorcycles adaptive to the
conditions of their service area, standard motorcycle riding equipment, medical equipment,
medicines and supplies to perform procedures to stabilize the patient prior to the arrival
of emergency medical technicians or ambulance. The minimum medical supplies shall
include, but shall not limited to the following:

m First aid kit
™ Oxygen administration
™ Automated External Defibrillator (AED)

SECTION 4. Qualifications of Motorcycle Medical First Responder. - The following,
are the minimum qualifications of a Motorcycle Medical First Responder:

™ Can drivea motorcycle with a proper driver's license and have undergone and
passed a qualifying examination on safe motorcycle driving

Monitor vital signs

Perform first aid

Administer oxygen therapy

Perform cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

Perform Automated External Defibrillator (AED)

‘The Department of Health (DOH), in cooperation with Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority (TESDA) and non-government organizations like Philippine
National Red Cross shall provide the curriculum for the training and certification of
Motorcycle Paramedics or First Responders to develop competency in providing basic
life support for adult, child and infant patient.

‘The Land Transportation Office (LTO) in coordination with the Department of Health
is hereby mandated to conduct a safe motorcycle driving course and a qualifying
examination to prospective candidates for motorcycle paramedics or first responders.
The LTO may in the performance of this mandate accredit non-governmental organizations
with at least five (5) years track record on advocacy and conducting education and training
for safe motorcycle driving.

SECTION 5. Appropriations. - The amount needed for the implementation of this
Act shall be taken from the current year’s budget of the local government unit concern.
‘Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for its continued implementation shall be
included in the annual budget of the local government concerned.

SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. ~ Within sixty (60) days from
the effectivity of this Act, the DOH with the Department of Interior and Local Government,
and the leagues of provinces, cities and municipalities shall promulgate the necessary rules
and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

SECTION 7. Separability Clause. ~ Should any provision herein be declared
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity of the other provisions of this Act.



SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations
or other issuances or parts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the official Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,