TRICK AND THREATS?: Flyover reopening poses more danger, engineer warns

By John Noel E. Herrera

The possible reopening of the P680-million sinking Ungka flyover at Barangay Ungka II, Pavia, Iloilo to light vehicles will pose more threats to motorists and the public, according to Ilonggo structural engineer Nilo Jardeleza.

Jardeleza warned of more serious dangers that officials and even the public will face if the flyover is reopened to light vehicles for the Dinagyang Festival, as the gap between the girders and cross beam of the flyover is progressing fast even just under its own weight.

“Ang problema naga-usmod ni siya wala pa service load. Bug-at ya lang nagapanaug na, (tapos) dugangan mo pa ang bug-at nga amu na na kundisyon ya? I think it is not safe nga dugangan ang karga bisan light vehicles lang na. It is no longer advisable and it is very dangerous,” Jardeleza said in an interview with Aksyon Radyo Iloilo.

He fears that the girders will eventually fall as the yawning gap progresses.

“Kung magsige ang panaug sang pier, madaku pa gid ang angkat. Chances are maubos ang iya ginasab-itan, ti mahulog ang girders. Ang ginakahangwa-an ko lang nga kun maubos ang iya ginapatungan, madagdag na ang duha ukon lima ka mga girders,” he added.

Jardeleza also emphasized that public safety is more important compared to other things, like the temporary easing of traffic congestion in the area.

“It should be advisable nga paramount ang safety of public, indi ang economic, indi ang cultural or whatever, paramount gid na, unahon gid na ya (safety of public),” he said.

The engineer also said that DPWH-6 should monitor the gap (kat-al) between the girders and cross beam as it is progressing fast and even they know that there is something wrong with the foundation of the flyover.

“Sa part sang DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways), ma-establish na sila (dapat) sang monitoring based sa kat-al or sa possibility nga mahulog na siya, unless wala sila sang measure nga obrahon. Monitor na lang sila,” he said.

In a meeting organized by Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas on Tuesday, DPWH-6 regional director Nerie Bueno said that they had already asked the Bureau of Design (BOD) to open a portion of the flyover to small and light vehicles to ease the traffic situation.

Treñas, as well as Iloilo 4th district board member Rolando Distura also supported the move if approved by the BOD, provided that they assure the safety of the public and motorists.

Iloilo 2nd district Rep. Mike Gorriceta also sent a letter to DPWH secretary Manuel Bonoan requesting the possible reopening of the lanes that have completed their retrofitting for safety and structural integrity “in order to ease the inconvenience of motorists.”

Meanwhile, DPWH-6 also said that they will hasten the construction of the road below the flyover and finish it before the highlights of the Dinagyang Festival to provide more space to motorists.

The PSTMO will also implement a new traffic scheme in the area of Ungka Flyover, like creating a new U-turn slot for big vehicles as they aim to ease the traffic situation in the area by 32 percent.

Bueno, on the other hand, admitted that the problem is not really in the structural design itself, but more in its foundation.

She stressed that the agency’s direction is to save the flyover.

“Siguro po it is on the foundation. ‘Yung soil po siguro, medyo malambot pa sa ilalim,” she said.

DPWH had earlier said that they will conduct a reinvestigation of the soil stability around the Ungka flyover, as it is allegedly the main reason why the flyover is sinking and still unavailable to motorists.

They had also implemented interventions to stop the settlement or sinking of the piers but noted that it is not the permanent solution.

“Jet grouting is not a permanent solution, it is just to stop the settlement of piers kasi if we don’t stop the settlement, masyado po yung bababa and later on we will not be able to use the existing structure anymore. So, while waiting for the permanent solution, we have to stop the settlement, so yun lang po ang reason why we put a little jet grout.” Bueno said.

Bueno added that they have not officially engaged a third-party consultant hired by the DPWH central office for the intervention, as they are still waiting for the funds to be released.

This is also a reason why DPWH-6 cannot give the exact solution and timetable on the problems and possible threats surrounding the flyover facilitated by former senator Franklin Drilon.