Distance is never a hindrance as long as the will to serve ignites within one’s heart. When the commitment to reach and to help the needy lives within one’s soul, no mountain is too high. No road is too long. And no island is too far.

The Municipality of Calayan, Cagayan was devastated by Super Typhoon Odette in September 2013 which resulted to the uprooting of trees, toppled down electrical post, damaged infrastructure and heavy damaged on agricultural crops and live stocks.

Many houses were damaged especially those houses made out of light materials. However, with the resiliency of the people and the community resulted to no report of casualties given its super strong typhoon.

Massive relief operations were immediately conducted to families inside and outside evacuation centers / areas to temporarily ease from the crisis situation of affected families thru the convergence efforts and combined resources/logistical supports from the Local Government Units, National Government Agencies, NGOs and private sectors.

For those indigent families whose houses were damaged, reconstruction of their houses is beyond their capability, hence, the Government thru Department of Social Welfare and Development provided Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) to 1,540 families in the four islands of Calayan, namely: Babuyan Claro, Camiguin, Dalupiri and Calayan proper.

They received their shelter assistance amounting to P10, 000.00 pesos per family with a total amount of Php 15,540,000.00 last May 28-30, 2014 from the DSWD – Field Office 02 technical staff and with the presence of Engr. Honesto S. Pardo of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Response Operations Office (DRRROO) of DSWD – Central Office.

The beneficiaries didn’t expect that the Government will provide such assistance to them considering their location, which entails six to eight hours travel by the sea before reaching the Calayan Island proper.

Likewise, the Municipal Government headed by Mayor Alfonso M. Llopis gave their sincere appreciation to the Department that immediately provided them relief goods for augmentation to the affected families during typhoon Odette and now, here comes the shelter assistance for those families whose houses were damaged.

They were very thankful to the Government and to the DSWD for the help they received for their houses will now be rehabilitated. But greater than that, the assistance they received gave them a deeper sense of hope and determination to continue living after the storm.

When that time comes, Calayan will not only be known for its lavish beaches, pristine waters and abundant sea wonders, but it will be more famous for its resilient and determined people who remain strong and proud despite disasters.

And no matter how many times Mother Nature cast her wrath; there will always be those dedicated public servants who are   ever ready to lend a helping hand.

These days, superheroes need not to wear cape and mask. They just have to wear something red. These days, superheroes need not to fly. They just have to sail and brave the seas. And the disadvantaged and the vulnerable can always count on them, even though beyond borders.###By ROMMEL S. GAMIAO, SWO II, Disaster and Risk Reduction Management