CALAMBA CITY, Laguna – The Department of Health-Center for Health Development-Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon area) has placed hospitals and health facilities in the region on code white alert from Oct. 21 to 27 as tropical storm “Kristine” approached the country.
"We have raised the alert status due to the track duration," Health Assistant Secretary Dr. Ariel Valencia said.
Kristine slightly intensified and was last spotted over the Philippine Sea east of the Bicol region as of 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 22.
Packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour near the center gustiness of up to 90 kph and moving west-northwest at 15 kph, Kristine is expected make landfall on Wednesday night, Oct. 23, or Thursday morning, Oct. 24, in Isabela or northern Aurora.
"We encourage all provinces in the Calabarzon region to raise their code alert as their Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (PDRRMO) deem appropriate for monitoring and response to the possible effects of the tropical storm and extend, escalate, lower their alert level as appropriate to the developing situation in their area of responsibility," Valencia added.
Meanwhile, the Office of Civil Defense-Calabarzon and Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management-Calabarzon is on red alert due to Kristine starting on Tuesday.
The RDRRMC also raised the region's emergency response protocol to Charlie and has activated response clusters in preparation for the possible impact of Kristine.
Code white alert refers to the readiness of medical personnel in hospitals and health offices to provide necessary health services.