News Release

Prioritize mental, physical health of evacuees in Carina-hit Central Luzon, PBBM orders DOH



President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. asked the Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday to ensure the mental and physical health of evacuees in areas hit by Super Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon in Central Luzon.

“Mayroon po tayong mga health workers sa lahat ng evacuation center at will augment the local … ang priority nila [Governors] ay ang health. So may mga tao talaga doon sa evacuation center,” DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa told President Marcos in a situation briefing in Bulacan.

Herbosa said they will also deploy “psychological first aid” teams for fisherfolk and farmers whose sources of income were destroyed by the typhoon.

“I think we need to support all of this kaya nanghingi ng ayuda pa iyan. Sometimes it is the stress of the effect sa kanilang kabuhayan, so magpadala tayo ng mga psychological first aid,” Herbosa told the President.

The President ordered the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to determine the farmers and fisherfolk requiring interventions. The Labor Department was also told to extend assistance through its Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) Program.

Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said some of the TUPAD beneficiaries were deployed to help the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) repack food items and to assist the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in its clearing operations. PND