Newsbriefs

DAVAO DEL SUR

30 families evacuated

A flash flood hit the villages of Lower Bala, Kilolog, San Isidro and Poblacion in Magsaysay town here around 5 p.m. on Wednesday, barely 30 minutes after a waterspout descended on Barangay New Ilocos, said Municipal Risk Reduction and Management Council chief Joseph Penonia.

Nobody was injured in the two occurrences, he said, but about 30 families have evacuated to safe areas. “We have an initial data of 25 houses damaged by the flash flood in the Poblacion area alone,” he said. Penonia said 11 more houses were damaged by the waterspout. Some farms also suffered damage from the flood and the twister.

On Sunday, three persons were injured following a violent wind storm in Barangay Tinagacan, General Santos City. General Santos City Mayor Ronnel Rivera said 22 houses were damaged by the twister. Orlando B. Dinoy, Inquirer Mindanao

New battalion exec

The Army’s 39th Infantry Battalion, which recently engaged communist rebels in successive clashes, has a new commander in Lt. Col. Apollo Lamaton.

Lamaton replaced Lt. Col. Norman Zuniega, who had openly admitted to failing in some aspects as commander of the Army unit.

“I have been rated to have performed well. That’s what my men are telling me. But, if I rate myself, I have failed. I have failed since I lost some of my men in war,” Zuniega said, citing the March clashes in Bansalan and Hagonoy towns that led to the death of two soldiers. Eldie Aguirre, Inquirer Mindanao

QUEZON

Outstanding governor

The association of the country’s social welfare officers has named Quezon Gov. David Suarez most outstanding governor for 2013, a Quezon official said.

Suarez received the honor during the 18th national social welfare and development forum and general assembly of the Association of Local Social Welfare and Development Officers of the Philippines Inc. held in Iloilo City on April 23, said provincial information officer Janet Geneblazo-Buelo.

Buelo said the award recognized the projects and programs that Suarez has implemented in the field of local social welfare and development, which aim to benefit the indigents, youths, disabled citizens and calamity victims even outside the province.

Three days after Supertyphoon “Yolanda” wrought catastrophic destruction in eastern Visayas last November, Suarez launched a province-wide relief drive. Delfin T. Mallari Jr., Inquirer Southern Luzon