By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental third district Rep. Alfredo Benitez was unhurt after he and several other officials from the National Housing Authority (NHA) experienced a bridge collapse yesterday morning in Barangay Rio Hondo, Zamboanga City.

Benitez, Zamboanga City first district Rep. Celso Lobregat, and Zamboanga City Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar were leading the inspection of a housing project in the area when the wooden footbridge they were standing on collapsed, causing them to fall into murky waters.

In a social media post by Benitez following the incident, the congressman said he was thankful no one was seriously injured.

He also said it was fortunate no children were involved in the collapse.

Benitez stated, if there was one good thing about the incident, it is that the collapse raises awareness about housing problems in the country.

He pointed out, the incident should open the eyes of public officials over the dangers of using substandard materials in construction projects.

Benitez added, as a permanent solution over the incident, he recommended NHA replace the bridge with a concrete structure in order to avoid the incident from happening again./DGB, WDJ