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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Constitution Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No._____ 
________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE EDWIN 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 if no 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 brethren 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 have 
to 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. 
January 26, 2023
5:24 pm
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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. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EDWIN L. OLIVAREZ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Constitution Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No._____ 
________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE EDWIN 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 noninvasive 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.
c. 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. 
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The motorcycle paramedic unit/s shall be equipped with motorcycles adaptive to 
the particular condition 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 be, but not limited to the following: 
 
◼ 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 drive a motorcycle with a 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 in cooperation with Technical Education and Skills 
Development Authority 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 Department of Health 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. 
 


 
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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,