Solons, mayor hurt as wooden footbridge collapses in Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Two lawmakers and a local executive fell into a creek after the collapse of a wooden footbridge leading to housing on stilts at Barangay Rio Hondo in Zamboanga City on Thursday.


Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Benitez, Zamboanga City Rep. Celso Lobregat, and Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco sustained minor injuries during the incident.

The two lawmakers led the site inspection of housing projects intended for the victims of the Zamboanga siege.

Benitez, who chairs the House committee on housing and urban development, said the lack of maintenance in establishing bridges and houses endangers the safety of residents.

"Nahulog kami ng aking mga kasama sa tulay na nilalakaran namin papunta sa mga housing on stilts sa Barangay Rio Hondo, Zamboanga City (We fell from the bridge that we are walking on while going to the housing on stilts in Barangay Rio Hondo, Zamboanga City," Benitez said in his official Twitter account.

 "And kakulangan sa maintenance sa paggawa ng mga tulay at bahay ay napakadelikado para sa mga residente lalo na sa mga bata (The lack of maintenance in building bridges and houses is very dangerous for the residents, especially for the children)," he added.


Benitez hit the use of substandard materials for the housing projects and community facilities for the Zamboanga siege victims.

"The very purpose of housing our displaced fellowmen is ensuring their security.  Why are we putting them at risk again by building houses of poor quality?" Benitez said.

Benitez' panel has conducted a congressional probe on the issue of substandard houses hounding resettlement efforts, particularly for the victims of the super typhoon Yolanda. [PTV News, PNA]