BAGUIO CITY(PIA) -- Apayao Governor Elias Bulut Jr. has ordered the immediate delivery of food and non-food items to individuals  affected by  Super Typhoon Egay in the different municipalities in the province
 
Bulut called on the different government agencies, law enforcement agencies and other volunteers to help in the delivery of the relief assistance to those in need and use all the necessary means.
 
He said that with the extent of damage initially reported, it is challenge  to bring the necessary relief supplies to the different barangays and there is a need to use all the help and support including helicopters and other vehicles.
 
“Nu masapul nga chopper ti usaren tapno maidanun tayo ti tulong (if we need to use helicopter to bring the needed relief support), we will do it. I told our officers and officials to prepare and ready the transport  to aid  areas isolated by the typhoon," the Governor said.
 
As of 8:00AM on Friday, July 28, 2023, the number of families affected by Egay in   Apayao has risen to 1,774 families  or 6,291 individuals.
 
Apayao Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office  data showed  1,148 families are in evacuation areas or private houses with all  served with relief aid and other basic needs items.
 
The worst affected municipality is Luna with 410 families displaced,  followed by Flora with 405 families, Pudtol with 337, Calanasan with 233, Conner with 174 and Sta. Marcela with 104.
 
The PSWDO also reported that there were   143 partially damaged and eight totally damaged houses.
 Many of these houses were  battered by strong winds, whacked by fallen trees or buried if not   swept away by   landslides or  raging flood waters.
 
The municipality of Calanasan suffered the highest number of damaged houses   with 103. It  includes a residential house in Sitio Lubong in  Barangay Butao  which was reported to have buried at least six family members  in a landslide during the height of the typhoon on Thursday afternoon.
 
Bulut ordered the immediate search and rescue operations of the landslide incident in Butao thru the support of the different uniformed personnel and other volunteers.

Apayao is among the provinces ravaged by super typhoon Egay.  (RMC- PIA-CAR) (Photo from Pudtol PLGU)