Sunday , April 29, 2018
By Teresa D. Ellera

NEGROS Occidental Third District Representative Alfredo Benitez said his fall into the murky water with other officials due to the collapsed of a wooden bridge in Sitio Hongkong, Rio Hondo, Zamboanga City on Thursday is an eye opener about the housing problem in the country.

Benitez in his official website stated that he is thankful that no one was seriously hurt from the incident while doing the inspection of the housing project in the area.

"We are thankful that nobody was hurt and that no children were involved in the incident," he said.

Benitez pointed out that the incident opened the eyes of the government and the public about the danger of substandard housing project.

"It is part of my job as chairman of the (House) committee on housing that we should inspect and make sure that those liable for substandard projects are punished, either government officials or the contractor, and arrive at a doable solution to the housing problem," Benitez said.

Benitez also appealed to the National Housing Authority (NHA) to construct a concrete bridge in the area going to the housing project in Rio Hindo to avoid the same accident from happening again.

Benitez said he won't forget the incident Thursday in Zamboanga.

He said they will continue the investigation of other housing projects of NHA.

Officials we're inspecting housing projects of the Zamboanga Roadmap to Recovery and Reconstruction program when the wooden footbridge collapsed.

Among the officials who fell into the water with Benitez were Zamboanga City Representative Celso Lobregat, Zamboanga City Mayor Maria, NHA officials and their staff.