DOH to deploy 201 medical personnel along Traslacion routes

INITIAL RITES Jesus Nazareno devotees have started flocking to Quiapo Church in Manila to have their icons—and themselves—blessed ahead of the annual mammoth procession known as “traslacion” on Jan. 9, where about 14,000 police officers are being mobilized for security. Photo taken on January 3, 2025. INQUIRER file photo / MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) will deploy 201 medical personnel along the routes of Traslacion, or the procession of the image of Jesus Nazarene, on Thursday.

In a statement on Tuesday, the DOH said that it coordinated with other agencies and the local government unit of Manila City to establish medical teams and health stations along the main routes of the Traslacion, including Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park, SM Manila, Ayala Bridge, P. Casal, and Quinta Market.

“[Nasa] 201 tauhan mula sa Health Emergency Response Team (HERT) ng 20 ospital ng DOH sa Metro Manila, kabilang ang Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center (JRRMMC), Tondo Medical Center (TMC), Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital (DJFMH), at East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC), ang itatalaga,” the DOH noted.

([There will be] 201 personnel from the Health Emergency Response Team (HERT) of 20 DOH hospitals in Metro Manila, including Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center (JRRMMC), Tondo Medical Center (TMC), Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital (DJFMH), and East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC), will be deployed.)

“Ang mga itinalagang health station sa kahabaan ng ruta ng Traslacion ay magbibigay ng basic at advanced care ayon sa pangangailangan,” it added.

(The health stations that will be established along the routes of Traslacion will provide basic and advanced care.)

Further, hospitals like JRRMMC, TMC, and other DOH hospitals in the NCR are ready to attend to the medical needs of patients from the Traslacion.

READ: DOH: Metro Manila hospitals on ‘Code White’ for Nazareno 2025

The health department said that it declared “Code White” alert in the hospitals in National Capital Region, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) from January 6 to January 10 in observance of the Feast of Jesus Nazarene.

It explained that a “Code White” alert is raised to ensure that all assigned medical personnel, medical equipment, and facilities will be ready to respond to emergencies and incidents.

DOH also reminded that those devotees who are feeling unwell and are experiencing coughs and colds should refrain from joining the procession for their condition to not worsen and spread among others.

READ: Nazarene feast: What devotees need to know for Traslacion 2025

“Hinihikayat namin ang lahat ng debotong makipagtulungan, maging mapagmatyag, at unahin ang kanilang kalusugan sa makabuluhang pagdiriwang na ito,” DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa stated.

(We encourage all devotees to coordinate [with us], be vigilant, and prioritize their health for this meaningful celebration.)