by CARLA GOMEZ on Fri, 10/14/2016

Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez yesterday said P4 billion in projects were implemented in the third district of Negros Occidental in his second term as congressman, and P1.2 billion more is earmarked for infrastructure projects in 2017.

Benitez, delivered his 2013-2016 state of the district report before Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya, mayors Francis Frederick Palanca – Victorias City, Mark Golez – Silay City, Andrew Montelibano – Murcia and Marvin Malacon - EB Magalona, and barangay officials of the third district of Negros Occidental at the Silay Civic Center.

He said that, of the P4 billion in projects implemented in his district during his second term as congressman, P3.3 billion went to infrastructure projects.

Benitez said his focus for his district is called I-Help that stands for infrastructure, health and housing, education, livelihood and policy or legislation, geared towards making communities self-reliant and self-sufficient.

On his current third term as congressman Benitez said a Metro Third Project, which he hopes Bacolod City will join, will ensure consolidated waste management in his district soon.

The project will be the most efficient and cheapest waste disposal system, which will include the conversion of waste to energy, he said.

Among his key legislative measures during his second term was the Sugarcane Industry Development Act that requires the annual allocation of P2 billion for the development of the sugarcane industry, he said.

Under infrastructure he highlighted the expansion of the third district highway into four lanes, and the thrust toward extending the Bacolod Silay Airport Road all the way to Victorias as a secondary road to cut travel time and decongest traffic.

He also reported on the construction of a tourism loop road network to tourism destinations in the third district to boost the local economy.

Other infrastructure projects implemented were bridges, flood control systems, health centers, classrooms and the building of multipurpose barangay halls, he said.

For health, he said the third district has the largest number of enrollees under the Negros Occidental Comprehensive Health Care Program with 52,000 indigent families, who are provided free health care in government hospitals.

The target is to add 20,000 more indigent families from the third district before his third term ends in 2019, he added.

Among his numerous education projects for the third district, Benitez highlighted the thrust toward cyber education and the use of high-tech Alternative Learning Boards.*CPG