DOH under ‘code blue’; P26.5-M health supplies readied for Rolly response

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) is under blue code alert while P26.5 million worth of medical supplies were prepared as response to the impact of Super Typhoon Rolly, its director said Sunday.

“Ang aksyon na isinasagawa at paghahanda ay sa DOH central office nakataas po ang code blue alert. Ibig sabihin nito ang kalahati ng ating empleyado ay pinagreport sa central office at mga ibang health facilities. Nagpadala ng weather alert memorandum for health centers of development patukoy sa weather disturbance,” Health Chief Francisco Duque III said in a televised press briefing.

(The DOH central office raised Code Blue alert meaning half of our employees were asked to report to the Central Office and other facilities. We also sent a memorandum about the weather disturbance)

Hospitals in the country were also alerted to ensure that their generators are functional, and critical life-saving equipment were readied in case of a power interruption during the super typhoon, Duque also noted.

DOH also has P26.5 million worth of health equipment, which includes COVID-19 equipment, which will be deployed at different health centers.

“Ang aking bibigyang diin, nakahanda ang logisitical support sa halagang P26.5 million kasama ang gamot, mga medical suplies, health kits kasama po ang personal protective equipment, at atin pong COVID-19 supplies ay nakaprepare ito by different health centers,” Duque said.

(I would like to stress that we readied logistical support worth P26.5 million including medicine, medical supplies, health kits, and PPE and COVID-19 supplies are prepared at health centers.)

The DOH leadership also said they have P21.7 million worth of additional supplies and commodities at their DOH office warehouse in preparation for the super typhoon’s effect on Filipinos.

JE