MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) has activated its “Code Blue” status in three areas heavily affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami).

In a situation briefing at Malacañang Palace on Friday, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said the status was raised in Cagayan Valley, Bicol, and Ilocos, while “Code White” is in effect in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Mimaropa, and Western Visayas.

LOOK: Marcos conducts aerial inspection of Kristine-hit areas

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Code Blue is raised to initiate coordination between dispatch teams, experts, and other emergency response agencies.

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It also gives a go-ahead signal for planning support in affected regions during a long-term emergency and activates the department’s Incident Command System.

Kristine partially damaged nine hospitals, including the Bicol Medical Center and Bicol Regional Medical Center.

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Herbosa said these hospitals remain functional despite damage to power and internet supply.

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“We have a couple of hospitals that are functional in Batangas but cannot be accessed because of floods,” he said.

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“Of the goods that we have deployed, we have actually sent out 97 million pesos worth of medical supplies and public health emergency supplies,” the health chief also said.

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READ: Marcos issues slew of orders to sustain, boost storm Kristine response

As of 11 a.m., the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration said the center of Kristine was last spotted 255 kilometers west-northwest of Bacnotan, La Union.

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It was moving west-northwestward at 15 km per hour as it maintained maximum sustained wind speeds of 95 kph and gustiness of 115 kph.

Kristine is forecast to intensify over the West Philippine Sea gradually and is likely to remain a severe tropical storm in the next five days.gkbet

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