FLAWED DESIGN, EXECUTION: DPWH allocates P229M, taps foreign consultant for Aganan Flyover

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The total cost of the Aganan Flyover has exceeded PHP 1 billion after the Department of Public Works and Highways allocated an additional PHP 229 million in the national government’s 2026 budget to complete the long-delayed project, with final completion targeted before the end of the year.

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon described the situation as “nakakainis,” or annoying, during an inspection of the flyover on Monday, Jan. 19, citing prolonged delays that have inconvenienced the public and wasted taxpayers’ money.

“The project is stalled for half a decade and once and for all we should finish this already. This will be a Christmas gift of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to the Ilonggos—Christmas of 2026. The president has instructed me to finish it this year and we will make sure that happens,” Dizon said.

Dizon emphasized, however, that structural safety will take priority over meeting the deadline.

“Finally, this year, we will finish this flyover, but we will do it safely. We will not compromise the safety of the public,” he said.

Dizon said an initial solution to address the flyover’s structural issues was proposed and completed last year, but the agency will seek a second opinion from a foreign consultant before proceeding with final construction works.

The DPWH earlier contracted Pasig City-based Abinales Associates Engineers + Consultants as a third-party firm to conduct detailed engineering design and geotechnical studies on the stalled project.

Abinales previously conducted a similar study on the Ungka Flyover along the Pavia–Iloilo City boundary in 2023.

The firm recommended jet grouting for the Aganan Flyover to address foundation instability caused by flawed soil depth assessments.

Construction of the Aganan Flyover was suspended in October 2022 after soil tests revealed a defective foundation design.

The original designer, United Technology Consolidated Partnership, underestimated the depth of stable soil at 20–24 meters, while DPWH tests showed the required depth should be 54 meters.

The contractor for both the Aganan and Ungka flyovers is Pavia-based International Builders Corp.

“Obviously, there is a flaw in the design and execution,” Dizon said.

“We will get a foreign consultant to give us a second opinion on the solution proposed by Abinales, who also provided the solution for the Ungka Flyover, which appears okay and pretty much safe, but we still need to get a second opinion,” he added.

Dizon said the consultation is expected to take about a month, with the DPWH targeting the resumption of civil works by mid-February.

While the consultation is ongoing, Dizon said he instructed DPWH Region 6 to complete the flyover approaches and other components that pose no safety risks.

Dizon also vowed to hold those responsible for the delay accountable, while stressing that completing the project remains the agency’s immediate priority.

“We will prioritize finishing this first, but someone has to answer for what happened,” he said.

He said the DPWH is investigating both the Aganan and Ungka flyovers to determine how the lapses occurred and to establish accountability.

Dizon also said right-of-way issues involving private properties along the flyover will be resolved, noting that earlier DPWH budgets did not include sufficient funds for land acquisition.

“Now we have a significant right-of-way budget for 2026. My assurance to residents and landowners—the claimants—is that we will pay what is due to you. It is not acceptable that the flyover has already been built while landowners have not yet been compensated,” he said.