Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez inspects a damaged section of a P93.6 million flood mitigation project along the Malogo River in EB Mgalona on Sunday, Sept. 7.*CPG photo
Rep. Javier Miguel “Javi” Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) warned on Sunday, Sept. 7, that he will blacklist contractors who fail to immediately repair two damaged flood control projects in E.B. Magalona and Silay City.
Benitez, accompanied by Department of Public Works and Highways officials, inspected flood control projects in E.B. Magalona, Silay City, and Talisay City. He found two sites that need repairs and one that requires dredging.
The contractors must undertake the repairs at no cost to the government, Benitez said.
“If they do not fix them, they will not be involved in any of the biddings in the Third District of Negros Occidental under my watch,” he added.
Benitez inspected a damaged section of a P93.6 million flood mitigation project along the Malogo River, which was undertaken by Supreme ABF Construction Supply Co. Inc. and Silvergraces Construction in 2019. He said about 20 meters of the project in Barangay Pasil, E.B. Magalona, is damaged and estimated repair cost is P300,000.
He said the repairs should be done “as soon as possible, ideally within weeks”.
The reinforced slabs are hollow inside because water has eroded them, he said.
Benitez also inspected a damaged section of a flood mitigation project along the Imbang River in Barangay Hawaiian, Silay City, also constructed by Supreme ABF. He noted that there were cracks and that the water was not passing through the proper drainage.
Garbage dumped in the area also needs to be cleared, he added.
Benitez also inspected a flood mitigation project along the Minuluan River in Barangay Zone 14 B, Talisay City, which is a perennial flood-hit area. He said there was no damage to the project, but an assessment showed the downstream area should be dredged to prevent future flooding.
FLOOD MITIGATION SUMMIT
Benitez is holding a flood mitigation summit at Nature’s Village Resort in Talisay City on Sunday, Sept. 14, to be joined by representatives of local governments.
Dr. Mahar Lagmay, head of Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards), will also attend, Benitez said.
“Flood control projects should be science-based and placed in ‘red areas’ where they are really needed,” Benitez said.
Benitez also called on residents of his district to be vigilant and report problems with flood control projects so they can be repaired.
NO GHOST PROJECTS
The congressman assured the public that there would never be ghost projects in the 3rd District under his watch.
He said the flood control projects in Third District in the past nine years, with the bulk in Silay City, totaled of P5.3 billion and there were no ghost projects.
Benitez said they would be focusing on work in Talisay City, where flooding recently occurred.*