LEGAZPI CITY, Albay (PIA) – The Department of Health (DOH) has placed all its units in the Bicol region on “code white” alert due to the ongoing threat of heavy rainfall associated with a prevailing shear line.
According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), this weather disturbance is expected to bring intense rainfall of 100 to 200 mm to the region until Monday, January 13.
Under the code white alert, all government-run hospitals and health facilities are prepared to handle emergencies and provide essential health services.
Dr. Rodolfo Albornoz, the director of the DOH-Center for Health Development Bicol, issued the alert on Wednesday that will remain in effect until the weather disturbance no longer poses a threat.
Albornoz directed the DOH hospitals and provincial disaster risk reduction and management for health (DRRM-H) managers to activate their preparedness and response plans, including surge capacity and contingency measures.
He also reminded provincial DOH offices to activate their operation centers and preposition adequate medicines and other necessary logistics supplies.
Local government units (LGUs) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development were advised to coordinate as part of the response cluster to address health concerns among evacuees and stranded passengers.
Emergency response teams have been placed on standby for deployment to LGU-operated hospitals.
In Albay province, Acting Provincial Health Officer Estela Zenit urged DRRM-H managers to monitor evacuees for symptoms such as fever and respiratory issues before they enter evacuation centers. Symptomatic evacuees should be promptly transferred to isolation areas.
As of Friday, the Office of Civil Defense Region 5 reported that 5,845 families, or 27,189 individuals, have been affected by the shear line in Bicol.
Some 1,063 families, or 3,032 people, have been evacuated in the provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, and Sorsogon. (PIA5/Albay)
