For Papal visit DOH-8: Thousands ready to respond to emergencies

PALO, LEYTE, Philippines – Department of Health-Region 8 director Jose Llacuna yesterday assured the public that the close to 2000 medical health workers, including health volunteers, are now ready to respond to any medical emergercies during the papal visit to Leyte on Saturday.

Llacuna said there are four field hospitals installed at the four corners of the Tacloban DZR airpot during the Papal Mass where a huge crowd is expected to attend, as well as join the motorcade to Palo town.

These field hospitals, temporarily set up at the Mass venue, were done in coordination with private hospitals in the city and the region, including the government-owned Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center, which provided personnels and equipment.

"Finally we have readied all hospital equipment, and medical first aid and health workers who will attend to any emergencies. I am happy because there are other regions and provincial health manpower that will also help us in this event," Llacuna told reporters.

The health official also made his appeal to the public to refrain from bringing sick people, pregnant women and infants, to the Mass area and other areas that are part of the itinerary of the papal visit to lessen the possibility of emergencies.

Other 41 medical teams from the different regions, together with 600 Red Cross volunteers, are now ready to coordinate with the local health workers at anytime we need them, Llacuna added.

Meanwhile, military officials dismissed reports that high rise building owners along the San Jose district, the Coca-Cola area and Barangay Marasbaras, the route of the papal motorcade, will be prohibited to stay at the second floor of these edifices.

Colonel Rodrigo Ilustrisimo, task force unit in-charge to stakeholders under the supervision of Brigadier General Wilson Lleva for the papal visit, explained that the other day the Armed Forces of the Philippines deployed 100 troops to secure these buildings, but not prevent the owners or people from staying at the upper floors.

The soldiers would instead secure the buildings to make sure that no one will try to distract the flow of the motorcade and preempt any act of disturbing the peace and order in the area.

"Every identified high-rise building along the streets of the motorcade route will be part of the AFP's security enforcement, without depriving the owners and people from using them in getting a view of the pope as he travels on his vehicle. I hope people should understand our role in the field of securing the papal visit," said Ilustrisimo.

The 7,000 policemen with the battalion of soldiers from the AFP and the Presidential Security Group yesterday morning conducted a dry run of the motorcade. Motorists however complained of delays and traffic jams because there was no advance notice about the test run.

Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines announced it will impose an extended no-fly zone around Tacloban Airport in Leyte on Saturday when Pope Francis arrives to the province, according to GMA7 News.

The CAAP said there will be a 10-nautical mile no-fly zone around Tacloban Airport from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m; then from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. the airport will be "closed due (to) special operations." There will also be a 10-nautical mile no-fly zone around Palo Cathedral from 11:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.