Food finally arrives in isolated islands off Cagayan
FLORO TAGUINOD, GMANews.TV
10/20/2009 | 04:44 PM
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya – Food and other relief supplies have at last reached islands off Cagayan province that were isolated by typhoon “Pepeng," just in time before the expected arrival of another typhoon.
Russian military helicopters came to the islands of Babuyan Claro and Calayan to deliver relief goods to hungry residents Monday, officials said.
The giant helicopters commissioned by the United Nations were sent to the islands upon the request of officials in Cagayan.
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Earlier, Bonifacio Cuarteros of Cagayan’s Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC), expressed fear that food and medical supplies in the islands of Fuga, Babuyan Claro, Batanes and Calayan have become scarce due to lack of means to transport relief goods to the said islands.
According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), typhoon Ramil, which originated from the central Pacific islands, could strike the northeastern tip of Luzon and the Batanes Islands Tuesday night.
According to Calayan Mayor Joseph Llopis, there are only small motorized boats available in his island but doubted if it can weather the already rough seas which was made even turbulent by the inclement weather.
He said that their two big boats which are only a two-tonner and a three-tonner will take at least 16 hours of sea travel to reach Aparri and back. Travel time from Babuyan Claro to Santa Ana is almost the same. Even then, the mayor was not sure if it can survive battering waves since the islands are situated were the Pacific Ocean and South China Sea intersect.
Initial efforts by the PDCC, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Philippine Navy (PN), to distribute food and medical supplies to the islands were not very successful due to aging sea vessels.
Some 1,200 residents in Babuyan Claro received packs of food but it was only good for some 500 individuals.
According to Chief Superintendent Roberto Damian, Cagayan Valley police director, the airlifted supplies flown-in by Russian piloted helicopters to Babuyan Claro, consisted of food and other basic needs.
More sorties are simultaneously conducted by the Russian pilots in remote Fuga and Calayan. The relief assistance also included blankets, kitchen utensils and toiletries.
“We will be able to deliver goods for some 1,200 families in Calayan and 451 families in Fuga," he said adding that some 500 food packs came from Malacañang, while the rest were from an American religious group called the Samaritans.
The helicopters arrived in Tuguegarao City on Friday and carried a total of 13,000 kilograms of relief goods. The operations staging point is in Claveria town. - GMANews.TV
Russian military helicopters came to the islands of Babuyan Claro and Calayan to deliver relief goods to hungry residents Monday, officials said.
The giant helicopters commissioned by the United Nations were sent to the islands upon the request of officials in Cagayan.
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV
Earlier, Bonifacio Cuarteros of Cagayan’s Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC), expressed fear that food and medical supplies in the islands of Fuga, Babuyan Claro, Batanes and Calayan have become scarce due to lack of means to transport relief goods to the said islands.
According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), typhoon Ramil, which originated from the central Pacific islands, could strike the northeastern tip of Luzon and the Batanes Islands Tuesday night.
According to Calayan Mayor Joseph Llopis, there are only small motorized boats available in his island but doubted if it can weather the already rough seas which was made even turbulent by the inclement weather.
He said that their two big boats which are only a two-tonner and a three-tonner will take at least 16 hours of sea travel to reach Aparri and back. Travel time from Babuyan Claro to Santa Ana is almost the same. Even then, the mayor was not sure if it can survive battering waves since the islands are situated were the Pacific Ocean and South China Sea intersect.
Initial efforts by the PDCC, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Philippine Navy (PN), to distribute food and medical supplies to the islands were not very successful due to aging sea vessels.
Some 1,200 residents in Babuyan Claro received packs of food but it was only good for some 500 individuals.
According to Chief Superintendent Roberto Damian, Cagayan Valley police director, the airlifted supplies flown-in by Russian piloted helicopters to Babuyan Claro, consisted of food and other basic needs.
More sorties are simultaneously conducted by the Russian pilots in remote Fuga and Calayan. The relief assistance also included blankets, kitchen utensils and toiletries.
“We will be able to deliver goods for some 1,200 families in Calayan and 451 families in Fuga," he said adding that some 500 food packs came from Malacañang, while the rest were from an American religious group called the Samaritans.
The helicopters arrived in Tuguegarao City on Friday and carried a total of 13,000 kilograms of relief goods. The operations staging point is in Claveria town. - GMANews.TV
