Bacolod City Lone District Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said he met with Fr. Aniceto Buenafe, lead convenor of the Council of Concerned Citizens (C-3), on Saturday (Oct. 4) to discuss the group’s initiatives in seeking full accountability in the implementation of flood control projects.
“I went to see him and discussed a few things. I shared my thoughts kung ano gid dapat matabo (on what really needs to done),” Benitez said in an interview on the sidelines of the inauguration of the multi-purpose center and skate park in Barangay Vista Alegre on Saturday (Oct. 4).
“He said we’re just after accountability, (I said) so are we. (If they are) after good governance, so are we, and (if they are) against corruption, so are we. They will have a discussion on Monday with the church officials. They will let us know how we can move forward.”
Benitez said he will not have a problem with the initiatives of C-3 if their objective and goal is aligned with his own purpose.
“But then if it’s a witch-hunting expedition and they will just look for all the wrongs, that would be a waste of time,” he added.
Last month, the C-3 initially conducted an on-site inspection of four completed flood control structures in Bacolod and requested the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for copies of various documents such as contracts, programs of work, and bills of quantities of the flood control projects in the last nine years.
Based on the DPWH records, the C-3 said that “from 2017 to 2025, Bacolod City alone was allocated P4.283 billion for flood control projects,” adding that there are “138 flood control projects funded, implemented, and some with ongoing implementation.” ||
