• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The installation of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) is being pushed by the Sangguniang Panlungsod at the Bacolod City Government Center, barangay halls and other public places, schools, malls, hotels, and resorts.
AEDs are portable life-saving devices designed to diagnose and treat life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias through defibrillation, and can be effectively used by trained laypersons or first responders before professional medical help arrives, the SP said in approving on second reading the proposed Bacolod City Public Access Defibrillation Ordinance of 2026.
Authored by Councilor Caesar Distrito, with councilors Em Ang and Psyche Marie Sy as co-authors, the proposal states that per the Department of Health, sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is one of the leading causes of death, and “the immediate use of an AED within minutes of a cardiac arrest can increase survival rates by up to 70 percent”.
There is need to ensure that high-traffic public places and institutions across Bacolod are equipped with AEDs and trained personnel to respond promptly to cardiac emergencies, the councilors stressed.
The proposed ordinance covers shopping malls, supermarkets, and large commercial establishments with a gross floor area of at least 1,000 square meters; public and private schools, colleges, and universities with an enrollment of at least 500 students; barangay halls and multi-purpose centers; hotels and resorts; and government offices, sports complexes, convention centers, transportation terminals, and other public venues as may be identified by the City Health Office, in coordination with the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
The city government shall allot funds for the purchase, installation, and maintenance of AEDs in barangay halls, city government buildings, public schools, and other government facilities.
Private entities covered by the ordinance, meanwhile, shall shoulder the cost of procurement, installation, and maintenance of AEDs and staff training as part of their regular operational expenses, the proposal states.
“To encourage early compliance, private establishments that install AEDs within six months from effectivity of the ordinance may be eligible for real property tax discounts or business permit fee rebates, subject to the City Revenue Code and approval of the Local Finance Committee,” the councilors said.
A “Bacolod Heart-Safe Facility” certificate shall be issued to fully compliant establishments, they added.
Failure to comply shall result in a written warning and directive to comply within 60 days for the first offense, a fine of P3,000 and suspension of business permit renewal until compliance for second offense, and a fine of P5,000, continued suspension of business permit, and/or closure order until compliance is achieved, for third and subsequent violations.
For public officials or employees who willfully fail to implement the ordinance, appropriate administrative sanctions under Civil Service rules shall apply, the councilors added. | CGC
