UN-assisted relief operations resume in Isabela

CAUAYAN CITY, Philippines – Amid the unpredictable weather, relief teams, which included United Nations and US Air Force personnel, resumed bringing relief assistance to Isabela’s typhoon-ravaged coastal towns yesterday.

Isabela Gov. Faustino Dy III said four more US Chinook helicopters joined the relief operations to the coastal towns of Maconacon, Divilacan and Palanan, which were hard-hit by typhoon “Juan” early this week.

“Relief operations are non-stop as long as the weather permits. It’s hard to reach the area at this point due to the weather but we have to bring immediate aid to our residents there,” he said.

Dy said food stocks in these coastal areas would last only until tomorrow, thus the need to transport more food packs and other necessary supplies such as medicine.

Isabela, the country’s leading rice and corn-producing province, has been under a state of calamity since Monday. It has incurred crop losses of more than P1.2 billion due to typhoon Juan, the worst to hit the region since 2006.

Power has yet to be restored in the three towns, including the rest of northern Isabela and most parts of neighboring Cagayan province.