DOH raises ‘code white’ alert for Verbena

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) has raised a “code white” alert in all its operation centers in preparation for Tropical Depression Verbena. 

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. 

“Under the Department of Health’s Code White alert, operations centers are ready to deploy the following: medicines, medical equipment, health emergency response teams for regions expected to be affected,” the DOH said in a post on Monday.

READ: PCG: Over 5,000 passengers stranded in ports due to Verbena

The DOH added that its operations centers are monitoring “24/7” for immediate response in affected areas. 

According to the 2 p.m. weather update of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), Verbena was last spotted over the coastal waters of Magsaysay, Palawan as of 1 p.m. 

Verbena was carrying a maximum wind speed of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 70 kph while moving westward at 35 kph. 

The tropical depression is also expected to make landfall over the northern portion of Palawan by Tuesday night. It may also develop into a tropical storm within the next 12 hours and may further intensify once it reaches the West Philippine Sea. 

READ: Classes suspended, shifted to alternate mode in parts of PH on Nov. 25

Pagasa raised Wind Signal No. 1 over the following areas, with wind speeds ranging from 39 to 61 kilometers per hour (kph) with winds potentially bringing “minimal to minor threat to life and property.”

Luzon

• Occidental Mindoro
• Oriental Mindoro
• Romblon
• Northern and central portions of Palawan (Araceli, Taytay, El Nido, Dumaran, Roxas, San Vicente, Puerto Princesa City) including Calamian, Cuyo, and Cagayancillo Islands
• Mainland Masbate (Balud, Mandaon, Milagros, Cawayan, Placer, Pio V. Corpuz, Esperanza, Uson, Dimasalang, Masbate City, Mbo, Palanas, Aroroy, Cataingan, Baleno)

Visayas

• Antique
• Aklan
• Capiz
• Iloilo
• Guimaras
• Western portion of Negros Occidental (Himamaylan City, Binalbagan, Isabela, Hinigaran, Pontevedra, La Carlota City, Moises Padilla, La Castellana, Valladolid, San Enrique, Bago City, Pulupandan, Bacolod City, Talisay City, Silay City, Enrique B. Magalona, Victorias City, Manapla, Ilog, Kabankalan City, Cauayan, Sipalay City, Candoni, Hinoba-An) /das