MANILA: The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday said it deployed Health Emergency Response Teams (HERTs) in evacuation centers in provinces affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine. In a public advisory, the DOH said the HERTs were positioned in Albay, Camarines Sur, Matnog Port and other areas severely damaged by Kristine. Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said three DOH Philippine Emergency Medical Assistance Teams (PEMAT) are ready to respond should there be a need for additional emergency teams as Kristine hits the ground. "We (DOH) got verified for three international medical teams, level 1. This is a 30-man team complete with WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) facilities for outpatient care," he said. The DOH PEMAT expert is providing medical services in times of typhoons and earthquakes. It consists of Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium (PEMAT Metro Manila), Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital (PEMAT Luzon), and Eastern Visayas Medical Center (PEMAT Visayas). The World Health Organization presented them ready and trained for domestic and international deployment. "I plan to deploy one in Bicol, the other one in Northern and Central Luzon," Herbosa said. "The first team was deployed in Turkey during the earthquake a few years ago." Source: Philippines News Agency