Remote Cagayan island finally receives relief aid

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – Almost two weeks after typhoon ”Pepeng” battered northern Luzon, residents of a remote Cagayan island finally got relief assistance yesterday, thanks to a United Nations-commissioned Russian military helicopter that transported the goods. 

Chief Superintendent Roberto Damian, Cagayan Valley police director, said the UN helicopter manned by Russian pilots airlifted the relief goods for at least 450 families in Babuyan Claro, an islet of Calayan island town located across the extremely harsh Balintang Channel.

The relief assistance included blankets, kitchen utensils and toiletries, said Damian, who also heads the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council.

Damian said sorties to other remote Cagayan islands, including Fuga, were also underway, with Claveria town as staging point. 

“The next flight will bring goods for some 1,200 families in Calayan proper and 451 families in Fuga. Some 500 food packs come from Malacañang, while the rest come from an American religious group called the Samaritans,” he said.  

Residents of Calayan and Fuga, an island village of Aparri town, were earlier reported to be starving as their food supplies had run out and harsh weather conditions had hampered any relief operation.

Damian said the Russian military helicopter carrying 12,550 kilos of relief goods arrived in Tuguegarao City last Friday.

Calayan and Fuga are about eight hours by sea from mainland Cagayan through the Balintang Channel, where the Pacific Ocean and South China Sea meet. 

Calayan has about 15,000 residents, while Fuga Island has 1,600.

President Arroyo, through Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, head of the National Disaster Coordinating Council, ordered the immediate airlifting of the relief goods to the remote areas following the arrival of the UN-chartered helicopter and additional assistance.

Calayan and Fuga residents are dependent on supplies from mainland Cagayan, which is still reeling from P2 billion in crop losses and infrastructure damage caused by Pepeng. – Charlie Lagasca