Two teeners drown,
floods affect 11,265
BY CARLA GOMEZ

A teenager drowned and another is still missing after heavy rains brought by Typhoon “Butchoy” caused flooding in southern Negros Occidental.

The floods hit 11,265 residents in Kabankalan City, and San Enrique and Ilog towns, Provincial Social Welfare Officer Liane Garcia reported to Gov. Isidro Zayco .

The Provincial Disaster Management Team also reported a landslide in Purok 9, Barangay Minoyan, Murcia, 2:30 p.m. yesterday triggered by heavy rains.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee on Energy is endorsing the entry of the Philippine National Oil Co. Energy Development Corp. into the Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park buffer zone, which is vital in addressing the current power shortage, Board Member Nehemias dela Cruz, committee chairman, said yesterday.

PNOC EDC has asked the SP for its concurrence on its entry into the buffer zone in order to tap more geothermal energy for its North Negros Geothermal Power Plant in Bago City. The plant that has a capacity for 49 megawatts is currently only producing about 4 to 5 megawatts of electricity.

MANILA – Negrense Lt. Gen. Victor Ibrado takes over the command of the 80,000-strong Philippine Army today, with the challenge to defeat the armed insurgents by 2010 facing him and Armed Forces chief Gen. Alexander Yano.

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro will install Ibrado as the 50th commanding general of the Philippine Army, in ceremonies to be held at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, at 3 p.m. today.

“I promise to do my best to lead the Army in its journey towards being a capable, professional and relevant Army at the service of the Filipino people across the land”, Ibrado said.