ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines —Two members of the House of Representatives, Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco-Salazar and National Housing Authority Regional Director Engr. Al Indanan, plunged into the waist-deep seawater after the stilt bridge collapsed, while they were on their way to inspect the project in Rio Hondo, here.
The incident happened at around 10:45 Thursday morning, April 26, 2018, involved a team of 15 government officials and employees, who were part of the inspection team.
The group Congressmen of Albee Benetiz, Committee on Housing and Urban Development Chairman Rep. Albee Benitez, Committee on Public Works and Highways Chairman Rep. Celso Lobregat, Climaco-Salazar, Indanan and other top officials of Zamboanga were walking through the wooden bridge to inspect the Rio Hondo house on stilt intended for the victims of Zamboanga seige when the bridge suddenly collapsed.
Benitez in an interview with Zamboanga reporters said, the incident gave them a first hand experience how sub-standard projects affect the people.
Since July 2016, when NHA manager Marcelino Escalada was appointed, the NHA started to conduct massive inspection and investigation on the reported sub-standard housing projects and various problems involving the construction of housing units for the victims of Zamboanga siege, storms Sendong, Pablo and Yolanda.-Mirasol Monteza/RMN Zambonga and Richard G. Falcatan/Newsline.ph
