Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Ted Herbosa on Thursday said four regions have been placed under “Code Blue” alert with the onslaught of typhoon Carina and the enhanced Southwest Monsoon or habagat.
Under Code Blue alert are the National Capital Region (NCR), Central Luzon, Ilocos Region, and Calabarzon.
“We have three regions that have raised code blue alert — Metro Manila regional office, even the hospitals of DOH are considered under blue alert. It also includes Ilocos and Calabarzon,” said Herbosa.
“And Central Luzon is also under Code Blue,” he added.
In a press briefing, Herbosa explained that under this alert level–which is the second highest alert–there is a 50% agency resource mobilization.
He said this means that teams are mobilized to augment existing regular day-to-day resources, and to tend to the affected areas or to treat patients.
He also said the DOH Incident Command System is also activated and a coordinative meeting with health clusters is conducted.
The alert further provides coordination with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
DOH data showed that as of 12 p.m., Cagayan Valley and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) are under Code White alert due to heavy rain, massive flooding and threat of leptospirosis.
The alert refers to the readiness of medical personnel in hospitals and health offices to provide or respond to necessary health services.
In a statement, the DOH said “with the inclement weather and flooding in various areas brought about by the Southwest Monsoon strengthened by Typhoon Carina, the [DOH] has declared a Code White Alert in all its Centers for Health Development (regional offices) nationwide, as well as for the Ministry of Health in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MOH-BARMM).
