MILITARY authorities are being swamped with calls from humanitarian aid organizations for ships and planes that could deliver relief food and water to the typhoon-stricken Dinagat and Siargao Islands.

Butuan-based Army 402nd Infantry Brigade spokesperson Capt. Jonald Romorosa said international aid agencies have asked them if there were available naval and air assets to bring food and water to the islands and Surigao City.

Similar inquiries have also been received by the Army 4th Infantry Division in Cagayan de Oro according to their public affairs official Maj. Francisco Garillo.

“We are still waiting for orders if we can deploy military trucks to Surigao City. We heard the highway from Butuan to Surigao City is already cleared of landslides and is passable,” Garillo said.

Romorosa said a Philippine Air Force C130 bringing food and water is scheduled to land at the Surigao City airport Saturday afternoon.

He said two Philippine Navy ships have also arrived in Surigao City to bring any supplies of food, water, and medicines to Dinagat and Siargao Island.

The NGO Balay Mindanao is sending a team of responders bringing food and water filtration systems to Dinagat Island on Sunday.

Balay Mindanao Charlito Manlupig said the SkyHydrant filtration system donated by Disaster Aid Australia could turn filthy water into potable and safe drinking water.

“These are the systems that people in Dinagat Island need most,” Manlupig said.

He said the team would wait for any available Navy or Coast Guard ship that could take them to Dinagat Island.

Dinagat Governor Arlene Bag-ao who sent a team out of the island to seek help is asking for food and water for its residents.

Romoroso said they have tried to land in Dinagat Island last Friday to give Governor Bag-ao a satellite phone and communications equipment but failed due to bad weather.

Romoroso who was able to fly to Siargao Friday described the destruction on the tourist-famous island as “ total destruction.”

“Most of the rooftops of the houses and government buildings were blown off. Sometimes you wonder how people can survive the onslaught, “ Romoroso said.

He said they landed in Siargao and gave a satellite phone and radio communications to Surigao del Norte Lalo Matugas.

Matugas reported two persons died and P20 a billion damages to the world-famous tourist island.