The Department of Health and all hospitals will be on Code White Alert starting today (Sunday) until Easter Sunday (March 31, 2024) as part of preparations for the influx of individuals and families going to provinces, tourist spots, and places of worship during Holy Week.
Under a Code White Alert, medical personnel and staff are placed on standby for the immediate acceptance and treatment of incoming patients at hospitals.
The DOH strongly advised the public to drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration; avoid prolonged exposure to heat to minimize the effect of high temperatures such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke; be aware of emerging diseases during dry season such as sore eyes, prickly heat rash, cough and colds, skin diseases, and vector-borne diseases like dengue; and always supervise children when engaging in swimming or other water activities.
“Following the instructions of President Marcos, hospitals are now on Code White Alert, always ready to care for patients in the event of any medical crisis,” Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said.
As this developed, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said provincial buses will be temporarily allowed to pass through EDSA until April 2 due to the expected influx of travelers this Holy Week.
Provincial buses will be permitted to travel from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
All provincial buses from South Luzon will terminate their routes at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) and Pasay City terminals, while those coming from North Luzon will be allowed to travel up to the terminal in Cubao, Quezon City.
MMDA Acting Chairman Romando Artes said the agency deployed 2,274 personnel on various major roads, transportation hubs, and other key areas in the National Capital Region.
The Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) or the number coding scheme in Metro Manila will also be suspended starting March 28 (Maundy Thursday) until March 29 (Good Friday), which are declared as regular holidays.
The MMDA Road Emergency Group will be on standby to provide roadside emergency service and assistance to the general public. Simultaneous sidewalk-clearing operations against illegal vendors within the vicinity of major churches will also be conducted.