CARLA N. CANET
June 28, 2019

OUTGOING Negros Occidental 3rd District Representative Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez bade goodbye to the people whom he served for nine years in a simple rites held at Victorias City Coliseum on June 27, 2019, which allowed a smooth transition from his leadership to his younger brother Congressman-elect Jose Francisco “Kiko” Benitez, an academe.

Benitez delivered his State of the District Address (Soda) before he turned over the responsibility to his younger brother whom he considered has the capability to continue what he has done for the district.

He said that his entry to politics was like a fish that went out of water because he was a nobody. He had to get all the support and endorsements and even rejections before he was able to realize his dream to serve the people of the 3rd District.

Benitez ran and won and amazingly finished his full three terms in public office.

His development works

He finished a total of 247.7 kilometers of road construction and rehabilitation since 2010 that include the Bacolod Negros Occidental Economic Highway (BANOCEH); 30.3 km farm to market roads/mill roads with P471.6 million budget; P1.2 billion for bridges; P1.858 billion in flood control projects; irrigation projects involving 1,221 hectares; P200 million Malogo river project; 77 Barangay Halls constructed; P65.4 million spent for the improvements and constructions of health centers; 88 covered courts constructed; 1,247 classrooms constructed and repaired since 2010 through the Department of Education and Pagcor; distribution of solar-powered water system, solar lights; DOE-Household electrification program that benefited his constituents in Barangay Canlusong, E.B. Magalona, Sitio Sibato, Brgy. Guimbalaon, Silay City, Brgy. Katilingban in Talisay City, the NOCHP health cards distributed and availed by 77, 103 families where 123, 036 patients were served; the NIKKI Cares Surgical missions where 854 patients were served; his program from Cradle to Grave with P29.2 million with 6, 061 beneficiaries served.

His development works in the national level in support for the programs and advocacy of the Habitat for Humanity and also as being in the Committee on Housing; his projects and programs to elevate the educational quality of public schools; livelihood training and assistance and many others.

He laid down all his development projects in an impromptu speech where he knew about everything that he did for this constituents.

All he wanted was to serve sincerely and genuinely the people who gave him their trust and mandate for nine years.

He ended his speech saying that he was still a record holder in the history of the 3rd district by garnering the highest number of 177,000 plus votes when he stepped down as their representative.

And he knows, his brother Congressman-elect Kiko can equal or even do more for the district.

He administered the oath of office of his brother Congressman-elect Kiko Benitez after his SODA including that of re-elected Abang Lingkod Partylist Rep. Stephen Paduano.

NEGROS. Outgoing Congressman Albee Benitez says he holds the biggest number of votes in the history of the 3rd Congressional Disctrict.

Congressman-elect Kiko Benitez teased his brother Albee that the 177,000 votes that he garnered for his 3rd and last term as congressman saying that, “I think my 173,000 with no proof and no enemy is still a good record. Hopefully, for the subsequent term, we will reach the 177,000 votes.”

It is true that the last nine years of his brother’s leadership have seen many changes and developments that have touched the lives of so many in the 3rd District.

His manong Albee is a very hard act to follow and very big shoes to fill.

“I have accepted the challenge because he has promised to work with us and he will never leave us. Nonetheless, we stand firm in the foundation of the last nine years of the Asenso of the district he has brought to us. Pasalamatan ta man siya bi liwat. This is on this firm foundation that I stand before you today. There is still much work to be done. Padayunon ta tanan ang iya nga gin umpisahan (We will continue what he has done including his initiatives.) We will indeed continue with the Asenso transformation with the district.”

“We will just continue what he has done. We need to ensure that our brothers and sisters get out of poverty and face the world with all the options available to them that our government can provide. What I have learned last year since I agreed to undertake this challenge is that all of these accomplishments you have heard about this evening would not have been possible without many of you that are here today. I am particularly grateful to the Barangay captains, mayors, vice mayors, and councilors both past and present, who are here who have taken to heart the philosophy of public service of Asenso. That the development must be about and felt by specific people and particular places, the orientation to families and households implicit in the housing initiatives of Manong point out to us, that government must efficiently provide the basic needs of its citizens and the households as a unit becomes a place for us to judge how far we have come,” he said.