Some 800 family food packs have been delivered to Calayan Island, the farthest and only island town in Cagayan province hit hard by Super Typhoon Nando, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Region 1 reported Thursday.

A statement posted on DSWD Region 1’s official Facebook page said personnel from the DSWD Field Office II collaborated with member-agencies of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in Region I to facilitate the swift delivery of calamity aid to Calayan, located about 24 miles west-southwest of Babuyan Island off the north coast of the Philippines.

“Ang mga family food packs ay ihahatid sa pamamagitan ng airlift operation katuwang and Philippine Air Force para masigurong makakarating ang tulong sa mga pamilyang lubos na nangangailangan (The family food packs would be airlifted with the help of PAF to ensure the delivery of relief aid to families who need it most),” DSWD Region I said.

Personnel from the Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office and the 4th Marine Brigade likewise assisted in the hauling of the relief items to fast-track its delivery to affected families on the same day.

Meanwhile, the Office of Civil Defense in Cagayan Valley reported that a medical patient requiring urgent healthcare services will also be transported from Calayan to Tuguegarao City in Cagayan.

“This initiative highlights the collaborative efforts of local government units and health services to prioritize the well-being of residents in disaster-stricken areas,” the OCD-Cagayan Valley said.

Ronald Villa of OCD-Cagayan Valley said in an interview that a Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis team is on standby to assess the ongoing needs in the region and prioritize the transport of additional relief aid if necessary. (PNA)