Published: May 18, 2026
MONROVIA — District 17 Representative Bernard Blue Benson says he will personally cover most of the cost of constructing the Lipay Town Bridge after Bao Chico contributed far less than he had requested for the project.
Benson said he wrote to the company Feb. 26 requesting $13,400 for the bridge and an additional $3,300 for fuel to support road-grading work in the township — a combined $16,700. Bao Chico responded with $5,000, leaving an $11,700 gap the lawmaker says he will fill himself.
“They replied, contributing $5,000 to a $16,700 project,” Benson said. “The balance, $11,000, will eventually come out of my pocket and that’s a fact.”
Benson said the request was based on commitments he said Bao Chico had made to residents in support of development in the area. He did not elaborate on the nature or terms of those earlier commitments, and Bao Chico’s position on the matter could not be independently confirmed.
Despite the shortfall, Benson said construction would proceed on schedule.
“The project will commence and be completed as scheduled with most of the funds being provided by my office or out of my pocket, just like many other projects we are doing,” he said.
The lawmaker said correspondence related to the funding request and Bao Chico’s response has been made public for accountability purposes and is available for review.
The Lipay Town Bridge project is intended to improve movement and access within parts of District 17, where residents have long complained about deteriorating roads and poor infrastructure.
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