Bacolod City lone district Rep. Albee Benitez is prodding the government to launch a thorough review of the country’s infrastructure following the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Cebu.

Benitez, in a statement Wednesday, Oct. 1, said doing so would help ensure the structural integrity of these infrastructures, amd that they can withstand natural disasters.

“Even as we have yet to assess the full extent of the destruction caused by the earthquake, it is also urgent that the government conduct a thorough review of the disaster-worthiness of all public infrastructure,” Benitez said.

The 6.9 tremblor hit Cebu and nearby provinces on late Tuesday night, Sept. 30.

The Visayas lawmaker underlined the need to address the people’s “growing fear and distrust” toward government-built structures, which he said were being exposed as substandard and pose a threat to life and safety with every calamity that occurs.

This was an obvious reference to the glut of anomalous or "ghost" Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) flood control projects that have come to light in the past few weeks.

“First expose the shoddy work, punish those guilty for it, then take the necessary steps to ensure that no public building, road, or bridge will contribute to loss of life, injury, and damage to property,” said Benitez.

Benitez, who serves as the lead convenor of the Visayan Bloc in the House of Representatives, also expressed his solidarity with those affected by the calamity, and gave assurances that the group would provide aid to Cebu.

“I wish to express my solidarity with the people of Cebu who have been affected by the recent earthquake,” said the solon.

“Cebuanos may rest assured that their brethren in Bacolod and the rest of the Visayan bloc are ready and willing to extend assistance to help them recover as soon as possible from this tragedy,” he further said.