Isolated Catanduanes villages get aid via airlift

By Ernie Delgado

LEGAZPI CITY --- Two villages in Catanduanes, cut off from the rest of the province, finally received relief goods delivered by a military helicopter on Sunday, a week after Super Typhoon Uwan (Fung-Wong) devastated the area.

Barangay Almojuela in Viga became unreachable due to landslides that blocked the road leading to the village. As of Sunday, the road was still filled with soil and debris from fallen trees, according to officials involved in the road-clearing operations.

In Bagamanoc town, the island village of Suchan remained isolated due to rough seas that followed the powerful typhoon.

“Just as we promised, we are delivering food packs to even the island barangays. DSWD food packs have reached Suchan in Bagamanoc via helicopter,” Catanduanes Governor Patrick Azanza shared on his official Facebook account.

He also announced the delivery of essential food packs to the 759 residents of the hinterland village of Almojuela.

Many Facebook users commented on the post featuring a military helicopter dropping DSWD food packs.

One commenter, Papa Dan Bagay, noted, “Before, after a typhoon, all the helicopters would just circle overhead. Now, the helicopters are landing to provide aid to those affected by the typhoon. It just means that something has changed.”

Another commenter, Julie Tomazar, who appears to be a migrant native of Catanduanes based on her Facebook account, said, “It’s incredible how fast the response to the disaster in our province has been.” (PIA Bicol)