The Department of Health (DOH) raised the blue alert status in Negros Island to supplement the request of Negros Occidental, which has been placed under a state of calamity, for more assistance to individuals and families affected by the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon.

In a statement, DOH-Negros Island Region (NIR) Director Razel Nikka Hao said “code blue” indicates the immediate deployment of health teams, experts and additional units during an emergency response.

“This is often raised to increase coordination with the existing dispatched team with other agencies and would also be giving a go-ahead signal for planning and support in affected municipalities during a long-term emergency,” Hao said.

After the explosive eruption of Mt. Kanlaon on December 9, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) raised the status of the volcano to Alert 3, which “means magmatic eruption has begun that may progress to further explosive eruptions.”

Under code blue, the DOH-NIR is focused on deploying health emergency response teams immediately to affected areas, prioritizing high-burden evacuation centers.

Others include inventory and augmentation of critical supplies and commodities to ensure adequate and timely replenishment, as well as continuous monitoring and reporting of health events, especially in evacuation centers.

“We urge the public to follow evacuation orders and safety instructions from your local government unit,” she added.

Based on the data of the regional social welfare office, 5,082 families composed of 17,216 persons have been affected in the cities of Bago and La Carlota, and the municipalities of La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Murcia and Pontevedra in Negros Occidental.

Of those affected, 3,611 families, or 12,101 persons, are still staying in 22 evacuation centers, mostly in worst-hit La Castellana. (PNA)