For the holidays: Hospitals on Code White - DOH

CEBU, Philippines – Public hospitals in Central Visayas will be on alert status starting Monday in line with the government’s preparations for the Christmas and New Year festivities.

Reynan Cimafranca, chief of the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit of the Department of Health, said the public hospitals will be on Code White, which means the hospitals and regional offices are on standby mode and should be ready to report for immediate mobilization.

“Wala pa mi natala nga adunay nabiktima sa mga pa-buto apan gipanglantawan namo nga posibleng motumaw ang kaso niini sunod semana,” Cimafranca said.

“Aron malikayan ang maong kaso, giawhag namo ang katawhan nga magmatngon kanunay aron dili sila mahimong biktima… nagsugod na me karon pagpakatap og mga posters sa mga terminal, pantalan ug hospital nga nagpahimangno sa mga dili angay buhaton ilabi na ngadto sa mga mahiligon sa pabuto,” he added.

Aside from safety, DOH said it is also equally important to watch over the food to eat.

“Kinahanglan gayud magmatngon ang katawhan sa posibleng pagkuyanap sa sakit nga makuha gikan sa kontaminadong pagkaon ilabi na kung dili kini maayo pagka-preparar,” Cimafranca said.

“Sa mahiligon sa pagkaon ug party everywhere kinahanglan gayud sila magmatngon aron malikayan ang sakit ilabi na sa mga high blood ug uban pa,” he said further.

Security

In Cebu City, the general manager of the Cebu North Bus Terminal, encouraged the passengers to be vigilant, considering the volume of people that use the terminals this holiday season.

Zosimo Jumao-as, Jr. said being vigilant means passengers should always keep an eye on both their surroundings and personal belongings.

“Hangyo lang mi nga kinahanglan magbantay sila sa ilang mga butang ug dili magtanga sa pagbiyahe,” he told The Freeman.

Jumao-as said the common crimes reported at their office are pickpocketing and theft.

“Magsige na hinuon og dangat ngadto sa among opisina kay papangitaon sa among CCTV. Madugay hinuon ilahang biyahe,” he said.

While CNBT has its own security guards, it has also coordinated with the Mandaue Police Station 2 in Barangay Sapangdaku to accommodate complaints. Jumao-as said the terminal is ready for the volume of passengers.

“We are always prepared pero lang mingaw pa karon. We expect more passengers next week. Pero sa among nabantayan, Christmas and New Year are like ordinary days compared to Holy Weeks nga mas daghan ang pasahero,” he said.

“For bus terminals, controllable ra man ang gidaghanon sa pasahero. Dili sobra ang tawo compared to port areas,” he added. — /JMO (FREEMAN)