Rio Hondo leaders, residents rally behind Mayor

WHILE FORMER Zamboanga congressman Celso Lobregat has resurrected the collapse of a wooden foot bridge in Barangay Rio Hondo four years ago, residents there and local officials thanked Mayor Beng Climaco for her untiring efforts in the rehabilitation projects in the area.

Photos from the Facebook page of Barangay Government of Rio Hondo show Mayor Beng Climaco inspecting a new 'Hong Kong' bridge which was previously made from wood planks which broke in 2018.

The planks of the bridge broke in April 26, 2018 - two years after it was built - while Climaco was leading a group of congressmen led by Housing and Urban Development Committee chairman Alfredo Benitez, including Lobregat, in the inspection of the national government’s project for the victims of the Moro National Liberation Front attack in September 2013.

The House Committee on Housing and Urban Development was inspecting the National Housing Authority project in Rio Hondo when the bridge collapsed.  

Dreams fulfilled

The Barangay Government of Rio Hondo quickly came to the defense of Climaco, saying only the mayor had helped them throughout since then. In a Facebook post, it said: “The entire Barangay Government of Rio Hondo headed by our active and energetic Punong Barangay, especially all our constituents, are sincerely grateful and thankful to our dear Mayor (Beng Climaco) of Zamboanga City for her dedication and help to fulfil our long-awaited dreams to strengthen (so-called) Hong Kong bridges.”

“After the incident on April 26, 2018, no one helped our Barangay, (what others did was just to blame others). But our dear Mayor Beng Climaco found some ways and she did not stop until what Barangay Rio Hondo enjoys today is realized. Almost all the slander and blame had been levelled at our Mayor, however, instead of blaming them and fighting back, what our dear Mayor did was she proved that in the end she is still the one who truly cares about the people of Barangay Rio Hondo and all the inhabitants of the City of Zamboanga. To our City Mayor Beng Climaco, gracias and Magsukul from the bottom of our hearts.” 

The mayor thanked all the leaders and residents of Rio Hondo. “Magsukul ha mga taymanghud natu ha agama Islam, iban mga lumad sin Barangay Rio Hondo, labi luba na ha mga Barangay Officials sin Barangay. Mag tabang tabang kita niyu para a bah’gu Kabuhi, Karayawan iban Paglasa ha raayat sin Zamboanga City,” Climaco said.

Lobregat 

The public statement of the Barangay Government of Rio Hondo came out after Lobregat posted on his Facebook page the following: “The infamous footbridge collapse that went viral happened four years ago (26 Apr 2018). April 26 is my mother's birthday.

The falling bridge incident did not happen in London... but right here in Rio Hondo, Zamboanga City! This footbridge was constructed in 2016 and was part of the Build Back Better program in response to the 2013 Zamboanga Siege.” 

“The collapse of the Rio Hondo bridge prompted two congressional hearings, but further hearings were suspended because of the 2019 elections. Had the hearings continued, we would have the answers to so many hanging questions including whatever happened to the P6.5 K deductions from the assistance to the beneficiaries (victims of the siege) given for Zamcelco and Water District accounts?” 

Climaco had nothing to do with the alleged collections of money from residents to pay for the installation of water and electricity in their houses. 

New bridge 

Last February, Climaco, who is running for congresswoman in District 1, inaugurated the newly-rehabilitated Rio Hondo-Mariki Bridge, saying “it stands tall and proud after the 2013 siege.” 

She also branded the bridge as a “symbol of resilience and unity.” She said the rehabilitation of the iconic bridge was funded by the local government and is one of the projects that Zamboanga Rep. Jawo Jimenez pushed because of its importance to the residents of Rio Hondo and Mariki, which connects the two barangays to mainland Zamboanga.

The handover was attended by local government and barangay officials. “The bridge is the only structure that remained after the siege and is also considered as a symbol of unity of the Muslims and Christians, and also a symbol of peace,” said Climaco.

The mayor is popular among Muslims and other indigenous tribes here because of her many programs, especially in equality and welfare programs. (Zamboanga Post)