Mayor asks DPWH-6 to release result of Ungka II Flyover probe

By John Noel E. Herrera

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas has asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-6 to make public the result of the third-party consultant’s investigation into the defective Ungka II Flyover in Pavia, Iloilo.

“I called ARD (assistant regional director) Al Fruto requesting DPWH to make public the third party consultation’s recommendation on the Ungka and Aganan flyovers at the earliest possible time,” Treñas said in a statement.

DPWH-6 previously said that the Abinales Associates Engineers + Consultant had already started the geotechnical investigation on the P680-million flyover last March 2023 and that the initial result is expected to be out by the last week of the same month or in the first week of April 2023.

But until now, the agency has yet to release any recommendation from the third party consultant, prompting Treñas to ask DPWH-6 to release the result and call for a meeting of the infrastructure committee of the Regional Development Council (RDC).

“I told him (ARD Al Fruto) I will call for a meeting of the RDC infra(structure) Committee so that DPWH can make a report. I will be scheduling the meeting next week,” Treñas said.

Fruto, however, earlier said that DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan had already conducted a Top Level Meeting together with the third party consultant last March 28, 2023, and the DPWH-6 was also waiting for the update from the central office.

He noted that the third-party firm presented the possible engineering intervention for the flyover during the said meeting.

Fruto added that the information gathered by the third-party firm after they conducted different tests, including geotechnical investigation and boring test, will be beneficial to determine the main cause of the vertical displacement or sinking of the structure’s piers 4, 5, and 6.

It is noted that the sinking of the three piers or foundations of the flyover in late 2022 necessitated the probe. The structure was then closed to vehicular traffic less than two weeks after a fanfare-laden opening graced by top national and local officials.