The Department of Health (DOH) will place its hospitals and health emergency teams under “code white alert” starting March 30, as the country braces for the annual Holy Week exodus.
Under the alert status, DOH-run hospitals and emergency response units will remain on standby around the clock until April 6 to respond to road crashes, injuries, and other medical emergencies that may arise during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
“Even as DOH is ready to rescue this Holy Week, health and safety begin with you. Stay hydrated as the heat is on: drink 7 to 8 glasses of clean and plain water a day, except for patients under medical supervision,” DOH spokesperson Albert Domingo said in an advisory issued Saturday.
Domingo also reminded the public that those needing urgent help may call the nationwide emergency hotline 911.
Holy Week is among the Philippines’ peak travel seasons, with millions of Filipinos expected to head to their home provinces, pilgrimage sites, and vacation destinations over the long break.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines earlier said it is preparing for around 6.5 million passengers across the 44 commercial airports it operates during the season, with traffic expected to peak from March 28 to April 5.
Passenger volume has continued to climb sharply. During last year’s Holy Week, total travelers rose 18 percent to 6 million from 5.1 million in the same period in 2024, underscoring the scale of movement expected this year and the heightened need for medical readiness nationwide.
