Governor backs Aganan Flyover resumption but doubts 2026 target

By Mariela Angella Oladive

Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. expressed support for the national government’s move to resume the long-delayed Aganan Flyover project in Pavia but said completion within the 2026 target year remains uncertain.

“The [project] should continue. I think there are already pending cases filed,” Defensor said during a press conference on Jan. 15, referring to accountability issues linked to the flyover’s defective design.

“But what is more important for us is that the project gets finished,” he added.

Defensor said he could not be certain whether the Department of Public Works and Highways can meet its renewed target of completing the flyover by 2026, noting that he is not in a position to technically assess the project timeline.

“It’s hard to say [whether it will really be finished by 2026, as they are promising],” he said.

The governor reiterated his position that United Technology Consolidated Partnership, the project’s design consultant, should be blacklisted following findings that the flyover’s foundation depth was inadequate and required costly corrective works.

Earlier this week, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said the Aganan Flyover is among the agency’s priority projects for completion, citing corrective measures already implemented to address the structure’s reported sinking.

The project drew national attention after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. inspected the site in August 2025 following reports that the flyover, which began construction in 2019, suffered from major design and foundation deficiencies.

The DPWH earlier disclosed that an additional PHP 285 million is needed for jet grouting works on 23 piers and for widening, pushing the total project cost to more than PHP 1.1 billion.

DPWH-6 officials said construction could resume between February and March 2026, subject to the approval of the 2026 General Appropriations Act.

While the national government has allocated more than PHP 1 billion for flyovers and similar infrastructure projects in the proposed 2026 DPWH budget, there is no specific line item for the Aganan Flyover.