By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental third district Representative Alfredo Benitez yesterday confirmed around 9,000 local Negros Occidental officials will be participating in a mass oathtaking to join the PDP-Laban, scheduled to take place next month in Victorias City.
He noted, barangay kagawads to mayors are expected for the event.
Benitez also mentioned House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III are also expected to be in attendance, however, it was still unconfirmed.
Meanwhile, as chair of the House Committee on Housing and Urban Development, the third district congressman said he will continue to probe substandard housing units built for the victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda, which devastated Leyte four years ago.
He pointed out, the previous administration of Benigno S. Aquino III allocated a special release allotment order of P6 billion, however, only about seven to 24 percent of the structures built for resettlement are occupied as construction materials were found to be “substandard.”/WDJ