Gov’t hospitals under white alert

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Health (DOH) has placed all government hospitals under code white alert for the Holy Week.

“Hospitals are now on code white, especially in areas where there are procession and other Lenten activities. They have to be ready to attend to patients,” said DOH spokesman Lyndon Lee Suy yesterday.

Code white means that the hospitals must have adequate workers on standby. Hospitals must also have enough medicine, medical supplies and other logistics.

Lee Suy also urged motorists to exercise caution on the road to avoid accidents.

“This is also the time for family reunion and we would not want anything untoward to happen. We remind motorists to be careful in driving. Do not drink alcohol while driving or before driving to avoid accidents,” he said at a press briefing.

Health Secretary Janette Garin advised those going on a trip to observe precautions when preparing their food.

“Because of heat, food gets spoiled easily so we have to be careful to prevent food poisoning. It is better to eat before embarking on a trip. It is better to bring biscuit and crackers,” she said.

Blue alert

The 125,000-strong military is on blue alert since yesterday, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said.

The AFP was on red alert from Saturday to Monday as it braced for attacks by the New People’s Army (NPA) as it celebrated its 46th founding anniversary on Sunday.

“It worked to our advantage by declaring the red alert. Now we are on blue alert because of the Holy Week,“ Catapang said.

On blue alert, all military units must have at least 50 percent of their troops on standby to address security threats or any emergencies.

He said soldiers would continue to man their posts during the Holy Week.

The Air Force is committing 50 percent of its troops and available air assets while Army troops will coordinate with their police counterparts to ensure the safety of travelers.

Navy spokesman Col. Edgard Arevalo said naval forces have coordinated with the Coast Guard and are ready for any emergencies.

Safe, secure and solemn

Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II assured the public that the Philippine National Police (PNP) and local government units would employ the “whole of government approach” in ensuring a “safe, secure and solemn” observance of Holy Week.

Under the PNP’s OPLAN Ligtas-SUMVAC 2015, more than 63,000 PNP personnel have been mobilized and deployed in more than 16,000 places of convergence.

The DILG has coordinated with its partner agencies for medical services, traffic control and logistical assistance to the public, especially those who will travel to the provinces.

Roxas earlier directed local chief executives to convene their local Peace and Order Councils to prepare for the influx of people and provide transportation and emergency services.

More than 88,000 force multipliers, including Barangay Peacekeeping Action Teams, have been tapped to assist the public and help the police keep local and national roads crime-free.

Safety assistance operations

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) said its Holy Week safety assistance operations had been activated.

“We want to ensure the safety of the general public by setting up first aid stations, ambulance services and welfare desks in areas where people are likely to converge,” said PRC chairman Richard Gordon.

Gordon said volunteers and staff have been dispatched in bus terminals and ports, and lifeguards assigned in crowded beaches like Boracay and Puerto Galera.

PRC secretary-general Gwendolyn Pang said she instructed Red Cross chapters to coordinate with local authorities for the duration of the operation from March 27 to April 6.

Lakbay Alalay

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reactivated its “Lakbay Alalay” since Monday to provide assistance to motorists traveling to the provinces this Holy Week.

The DPWH said Lakbay Alalay assistance stations would be operational round-the-clock from March 30 to April 6.

The DPWH said it has prepared all national roads for the expected influx of vehicles with the installation of informational and directional signs, potholes patching, provision of reflectorized pavement markings and warning signs with clear and safe sight distance on all ongoing construction projects. – With Evelyn Macairan, Paolo Romero, Rainier Allan Ronda, Jaime Laude, Cecille Suerte Felipe