Town councilor optimistic on Senate probe into troubled flyover

By Joseph B.A. Marzan

The chairperson of the transportation committee of Sangguniang Bayan of Pavia, Iloilo on Friday expressed optimism that the Senate will take up their call for an inquiry into the ₱680-million Ungka Flyover.

Town councilor Jose Maria “Pyt” Trimañez told Daily Guardian on Air that he personally delivered a copy of their resolution urging a Senate investigation to 11 members of the chamber.

Trimañez narrated that shortly after the resolution’s unanimous passage by the council on May 29, they reached out to the offices of all 24 Senators via email to set appointments.

Five offices responded positively, including that of Senators Juan Edgardo Angara (LDP), Alan Peter Cayetano (Ind.), Christopher Lawrence Go (PDP-LABAN), Ronald Dela Rosa (PDP-LABAN), and Robinhood Padilla (PDP-LABAN).

Trimañez said was able to speak with Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. (LAKAS-CMD), who is the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Works.

He shared that he received positive responses from all the senators which they approached.

“[Revilla personally] talked to us positively. He said that he would seek to acquire more information so his legislative staff can study, and he can possibly push for the inquiry when Congress returns to session. This is also the case with the staff of [Dela Rosa], [Go], and [Cayetano], who have all said that this needs to be looked at because this was built on taxpayer money,” Trimañez said.

The councilor emphasized the importance of the investigation, especially after a probe commissioned by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) revealed on May 15 that all of the flyover’s piers or foundations were sinking, including three that sank by more than 1 foot.

“If there were calamities in the future, what would be the fate [of the Ungka Flyover] if [its piers] keep sinking and [the DPWH] does not do anything? We are really praying that this would be given an immediate solution through the legislative inquiry. The purpose is to give justice to the ₱680 million, and scrape the surface on who is at fault and who was negligent,” he stated.

Go and Padilla are also members of the Senate’s Public Works committee, which would spearhead the inquiry if it ever took place.

Another committee member, Sen. Maria Imelda Marcos (Nacionalista), said previously during a visit to Iloilo that she would support an inquiry should it ever be put forward.

The vice-chairpersons of the committee are Sens. Sherwin Gatchalian (NPC) and Mark Villar (Nacionalista), the latter being the DPWH Secretary when the Ungka Flyover was approved and started construction in 2020.

But this may not come sooner, as Congress is currently on a break and will return for the opening of the new session on July 24, the same day when President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his State of the Nation Address (SONA).

The Senate counterpart in the House of Representatives, the Committee on Public Works and Highways. is expected to take up the issue also after the SONA.

Iloilo 2^nd district Representative Michael Gorriceta (Nacionalista) confirmed this to Daily Guardian after meeting with committee chairperson, Surigao del Sur 2^nd district Rep. Romeo Momo (Ind.) on May 29.

Gorriceta is a member of the said House committee, where party-list Rep. Jojo Ang (Uswag Ilonggo) also serves as vice-chairperson.

Ang is related to the family who owns the International Builders Corporation (IBC), who bagged the contract to build the flyover, which straddles Iloilo City and Pavia town.

The lower house’s inquiry was triggered by the referral of House Resolution No. 721 to the Public Works and Highways committee on May 31.

The resolution, which calls for an investigation on the flyovers in Ungka and Aganan, also in Pavia, was authored by Makabayan bloc party-list Reps. Arlene Brosas (Gabriela), France Castro (ACT Teachers), and Raoul Danniel Manuel (Kabataan), and co-authored by Iloilo City lone district Rep. Julienne Baronda (National Unity).