DOH raises Code Blue Alert amid Tino onslaught

MANILA – Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro Herbosa has placed the entire department and all its facilities nationwide under Code Blue Alert due to the widespread impact of Typhoon Tino.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, the DOH said the declaration follows President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s announcement of a national state of calamity.

Under the alert status, the DOH, including its regional offices and health facilities, is placed on heightened alert.

Consequently, additional health personnel are deployed to evacuation centers and temporary health facilities in areas affected by the typhoon.

Medicines, medical supplies and mobile response teams are also prepositioned to assist local government units in their disaster response efforts.

For rapid coordination and emergency response, the Operations Center and Health Emergency Management Staff are fully activated, the DOH said.

Three Philippine Emergency Medical Assistance Teams, recognized by the World Health Organization, are also on standby for deployment. These teams are capable of operating outpatient departments or setting up temporary hospital tents during disasters.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) earlier said the reported death toll from the effects of Tino has climbed to 114 as of Thursday morning, with 127 missing and 82 injured.

It added 544,081 families or 1,951,546 persons residing in 5,089 barangays across eight regions nationwide were affected by the typhoon. — Ma. Teresa Montemayor (PNA)