• CHERYL G. CRUZ
Negros Occidental 3rd District Rep. Jose Francisco “Kiko” Benitez said March 16 that infrastructure projects, worth more than P5.3 billion, have been implemented in the Metro Third since 2022.
Benitez said that, of the infra projects, P1.7 billion was for roads, including national and local, as well as tourism highways, and farm-to-market and farm-to-mill roads; P2.2 billion in flood-control projects; P274.1 million worth of multipurpose buildings, including daycare centers, covered courts, and barangay halls in 51 areas all over the district; P151.2 million in water and rainwater collection system; and P106.1 million earmarked for the rehabilitation or construction of schools, among others.
He said that these infra projects have either been completed or ongoing, adding that his office also released more than P57 million for health and social services, benefiting 8,968; medical assistance of P11.2 million for 1,149 indigent patients at the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Memorial Provincial Hospital in Silay City; and medical assistance referral to various hospitals in Bacolod and Metro Manila, P32 million.
Benitez, who is the chairperson of the House Committee on Housing and Urban Development, also reported three new housing sites in the district, adding that about 5,000 beneficiaries will be covered once the Sidlak Village of Victorias, the 4PH Village of Silay, and the Employees Village of Talisay are completed.
His bills on human settlements, including the In-City Housing, Sustainable Cities, and Housing Rental Subsidy have all been approved by the House of Representatives on third and final reading.
“The Balay Hilway advocacy continues in Metro 3rd as the District Office strengthened synergy and collaboration with housing offices of local government units through regular coordination meetings, site visits, involvement of LGU-SP Committee chairpersons for Housing and Livelihood, networking with agencies/private sector for skills, and livelihood training for homeowners’ association members,” Benitez’s work updates in the 19th Congress showed.
Synergy provides opportunity for sharing of problems of housing offices as well as best practices and bench-marking among LGUs, it added.
The solon, who will likely seek a third term in the May 2025 elections, is the main author in the House of Republic Act 11961, or the New Heritage Act, which he earlier said, “mandates cultural mapping and provides vital safeguards for our heritage sites, parks, and the diverse range of natural cultural wonders, such as wetlands, geoparks, and biospheres,” among others”.
His other bills that the House already passed include the Negros Island Region creation, which was also approved by the Senate last week; Open Data Transmission Market, establishing the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) hubs, HB 6343 on Infra Master Plan, HB 9662: Blue Economy, HB 6109: Marine Zones, HB 2604: Institutionalizing the Philippine Ecosystem and National Capital Accounting System (PENCAS), Magna Carta for Barangay Health Workers;
Bill granting franchise to the Negros Electric and Power Corporation to take over the electric power distribution system of the Central Negros Electric Cooperative, HB 74: Marine Hatchery in the Third District, the establishment of the Victorias General Hospital, and of the Tesda training center in Murcia. | CGC
