The Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday activated its National Public Health Emergency Operations Center (PHEOC) in a swift response to both the devastation caused by Typhoon Tino and the looming threat of approaching Typhoon Uwan.
The move follows the Marcos administration’s declaration of a one-year state of national calamity to expedite recovery efforts across the country.
The activation means the DOH will now serve as the primary emergency operations center, ensuring that all coordination for health-related emergencies, especially during Uwan’s expected onslaught, is centralized. The department stated that the PHEOC is intended to provide a clear chain of command and ensure harmonized coordination across the DOH and its local response partners.
“With the help of PHEOC, the mechanism for response from national down to local government units will be strengthened,” the DOH said in a statement. “The DOH assures the public that it will intensify its response to any health-related emergency such as typhoon, especially with the activation of the National PHEOC.”
The activation was made official just after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed Proclamation 1077, which declares the national calamity. This proclamation aims to streamline rescue, relief, recovery, and rehabilitation efforts following the widespread destruction brought by Typhoon Tino (international name Kalmaegi).
Meanwhile, hospitals across Northern Luzon are already preparing for potential health emergencies as Typhoon Uwan (international name Fung-wong) nears the region.
