DOH: NCR, Calabarzon, Central Luzon, Ilocos Region on ‘Code Blue’

MANILA: The Department of Health (DOH) declared a Code Blue status on Thursday in the National Capital Region (NCR), Calabarzon, Central Luzon, and Ilocos Region amid the devastation brought by Super Typhoon Carina and the enhanced southwest monsoon (habagat). 'We have three regions that have raised Code Blue alert... Metro Manila regional office, which means even all DOH hospitals are considered on blue alert, the same with Ilocos and Calabarzon,' DOH Secretary Herbosa said during an emergency command conference at the East Avenue Medical Center. The DOH declared Code Blue alert to initiate coordination between dispatch teams, experts, and other emergency response agencies. Such alert also gives a go signal for planning support for affected regions during a long-term emergency, including the activation of the Incident Command System. Earlier, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. instructed the DOH to establish pop-up clinics and to deploy a medical team in every evacuation site. Marcos also directed the DO H to prepare enough medicines. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said at least 13 people have been reported dead, two injured, and two missing as of Wednesday night. About 189,014 families or 910,536 individuals were affected by the massive flooding and heavy rainfall. Source: Philippines News agency