Group slams DPWH on Aganan Flyover completion

By Juliane Judilla

The multisectoral group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) – Panay criticized the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) following claims by Secretary Vince Dizon that the long-delayed Aganan Flyover in Barangay Aganan, Pavia, will be completed this year.

In a statement released Thursday, Jan. 15, BAYAN Panay said finishing the flyover without holding those responsible for its failures accountable “is not justice,” adding that the project has become a symbol of poor planning and possible corruption.

The statement followed Dizon’s remarks during a Jan. 12 press conference, where he said completing the flyover is among the agency’s top priorities after a site visit by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Aug. 13, 2025, during which construction errors and structural lapses were cited.

“The Aganan Flyover stands as a concrete monument to poor planning and possible corruption,” BAYAN Panay said, noting that the project’s original cost of PHP 802 million increased by an additional PHP 285 million due to serious structural problems, including sinking piers and safety risks.

The group said the prolonged delays have caused years of hardship for commuters, workers, small businesses and residents of Pavia and nearby Iloilo City, yet no individual or institution has been held accountable.

BAYAN Panay rejected claims that the flyover merely “encountered problems,” arguing that the structure’s failure points to deeper issues such as questionable feasibility studies, inadequate soil assessments, substandard construction materials and lapses in supervision by contractors and DPWH officials.

“These failures point not to mere technical issues, but to systemic negligence and possible corruption that must be confronted,” the group said.

The group also raised concerns over funding transparency, citing the 2026 national budget under the Marcos Jr. administration, which it said does not contain a specific line item for the Aganan Flyover and instead places funding under a general allocation for flyovers, interchanges and bridges.

“Lump-sum funds are breeding grounds for corruption,” BAYAN Panay said, warning that such arrangements allow failed projects to be repeatedly repaired using public funds without accountability.

Calling for action, the group urged the government to avoid what it described as an “Ungka Flyover 2.0,” referring to another controversial infrastructure project in Iloilo, and demanded a full, independent and transparent investigation into all stages of the Aganan Flyover project.

BAYAN Panay said contractors, engineers, consultants and approving officials found liable for negligence, corruption or gross incompetence should face criminal, administrative and financial charges and shoulder the cost of correcting the project.

“The public should not be made to pay—again—for a failure caused by those who already profited from public funds,” the group said.

While acknowledging the need to complete the flyover, BAYAN Panay stressed that finishing the project alone is insufficient.

“True development means prioritizing public welfare over political optics, ensuring transparency in infrastructure spending, and proving that no official or contractor is above the law,” the group said.