Amid a series of strong earthquakes that jolted various parts of the country, the Department of Health (DOH) has identified DOH-run hospitals in four sections of Metro Manila that will lead in emergency response in case of a major earthquake like the ‘Big One.’
In a press conference on Tuesday, the DOH and representatives from some of its hospitals presented their emergency response and contingency plans in case a major earthquake strikes.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) earlier warned that the ‘Big One,’ or a magnitude 7.2 earthquake along the West Valley Fault, could kill more than 33,000 people and cause 168,000 buildings to collapse.
The DOH, citing figures from the National Harmonized Contingency Plan, noted that the death toll from a major earthquake might reach over 52,000 across Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon).
It added that this could also result in 679,000 injuries, and over 5.3 million Filipinos displaced.
Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said that he will be going around the DOH-run hospitals to make sure that they are ready for calamities like this.
‘We have to be the last facility standing,’ he added.
Health Promotion Bureau Director Tina Marasigan added that this is in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. that all DOH hospitals must continue operations once calamities like the ‘Big One’ hits.
Below is the list of DOH hospitals in the four different sections of Metro Manila:
North
Dr. Jose Rodriguez Memorial Hospital
San Lorenzo Ruiz Women’s Hospital
Valenzuela Medical Center
East Avenue Medical Center
National Children’s Hospital
Philippine Orthopedic Center
Quirino Memorial Medical Center
Lung Center of the Philippines
National Kidney and Transplant Institute
Philippine Heart Center
Philippine Children’s Medical Center
East
Amang Rodriguez Medical Center
Rizal Medical Center
West
Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital
National Center for Mental Health
San Lazaro Hospital
Tondo Medical Center
Dr. Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center
South
Research Institute for Tropical Medicine
Las Piñas General Hospital and Satellite Trauma Center
DOH’s plan of action
The DOH said that it ‘will continue to lead and support the response and recovery initiatives in the affected areas’ by providing the following assistance:
Establishing and sustaining medical clinics in tent cities
Prioritizing the replenishment of medical supplies and medicines
Ensuring proper and intact line of communication and power systems
Ensuring sufficient supply for surge capacity such as beds and tents
Focusing on welfare of healthcare workers
Ramping up information dissemination and coordination with relevant stakeholders and affected communities
Improving system for common and control for all levels
Close coordination with other government agencies