By Brian Jules Campued
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has directed the Department of Health (DOH) to ensure that medical teams are stationed in every evacuation site to check on the conditions of those affected by the massive flooding and heavy rains brought by Typhoon Carina and the enhanced southwest monsoon or “habagat”.
In a situation briefing at the Presidential Security Command in Manila on Thursday, President Marcos also emphasized the need for pop-up clinics to properly address the health of the vulnerable sector, such as the elderly and children.
“We have to get some medical (team), kahit na ’yong mga BHWs (barangay health workers) lang nila muna… hanggang makarating ang doctors do’n. Mag-assess lang sila that everybody is okay. Anybody is in need of immediate help,” Marcos said.
In the said briefing with the President, the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) said that at least 13 people have been reported dead, two injured, and two missing.
Meanwhile, around 189,014 families or 910,536 individuals were affected by the typhoon and habagat—of which roughly 123,992 families or 612,961 individuals were brought to evacuation centers.
Marcos also instructed concerned government agencies and local authorities to identify the areas that were hit hard by the twin weather disturbances to be able to provide immediate assistance to affected residents. – iro
