Aesthetic Facade or Accountability Mask?

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is ready to reopen the Ungka Flyover, and they are promising more than just a functional structure. Come December 25, the flyover will reopen with a fresh look, complete with aluminum cladding and light effects, all aimed at transforming it into an “iconic” addition to Iloilo City’s landscape. It is being framed as a Christmas gift to the public, offering a sense of closure and relief for motorists who have had to endure months of uncertainty.

But beneath this grand unveiling lies a nagging question: Will this makeover really address the unresolved accountability over the flyover’s initial collapse? The flyover’s aesthetic improvements—while undoubtedly eye-catching—risk becoming a superficial fix, a glossing over of the deeper, more structural issues that plagued its earlier days.

IBC, the same Pavia-based firm that handled the original work, has again won the contract to correct the mistakes. DPWH’s assurances, echoed by Regional Director Sanny Boy Oropel, frame the problem as one rooted in plans, not execution.

And while the aesthetics might appease public frustration, the procedural intricacies, such as the involvement of the Office of the Ombudsman and the yet-to-be-resolved liability of United Technologies Consolidated Partnership, suggest that accountability may not come as quickly as the public would like.

The beautification efforts—though commendable—should not distract from the pressing need for transparency and accountability.

A flyover might gleam in the sunlight or sparkle at night, but without addressing the underlying failures, these embellishments only serve to mask the flaws that linger.

As we welcome the reopening, we must ask ourselves: Does beautification equate to resolution? Or is this just a temporary balm to appease public dissatisfaction while the more difficult questions remain unanswered?

The public deserves more than a pretty flyover; they deserve a full reckoning of what went wrong and who is responsible. Until then, the glitzy reopening may only hide the ugly truth beneath.