DOH deploys emergency medical teams to Bogo City after 6.9-magnitude earthquake in Cebu
The Department of Health (DOH) deployed emergency medical teams to Bogo City after the magnitude 6.9 earthquake in Cebu, sending specialists and supplies under a Code White Alert to aid affected residents. (DOH / Facebook)
The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday, October 1, said it had deployed multiple emergency medical response teams to Bogo City following the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck northern Cebu on the night of September 30.
Acting on the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to ensure immediate disaster response, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa mobilized medical teams from the DOH-run Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) in Cebu City.
The first batch of doctors and specialists—including general surgeons, emergency medicine practitioners, and orthopedic surgeons—was dispatched in the early hours of October 1.
They brought with them medical supplies and essential commodities to assist injured residents.
At around 8 a.m., a second batch of medical teams was also deployed to reinforce operations at the Cebu Provincial Hospital in Bogo City.
Code White Alert
Meanwhile, the DOH raised a Code White Alert across Central Visayas.
Under this alert status, the DOH Operations Center is on full standby with medicines, medical equipment, and Health Emergency Response Teams (HERT) ready to support hospitals and communities in earthquake-hit areas.
The DOH said the medical teams are now on the ground, attending to patients and addressing urgent healthcare needs in affected communities.
The magnitude 6.9 earthquake, which struck at 9:59 p.m. on September 30 with its epicenter near Bogo City, damaged several structures and forced residents to flee to open spaces for safety.
Damage assessments and relief operations are ongoing, according to reports.