UFCC manifesto decries DPWH and UTCP fault in Ungka flyover

The United Filipino Consumers and Commuters (UFCC) decried the sloppiness of the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) Bureau of Designs for wasting P680 million in taxpayers money in the faulty Ungka flyover in Iloilo.

UFCC president Rudolfo Javellana Jr., president said in a manifesto they uploaded on social media that DPWH Central Office as well as United Technology Consolidated Partnership (UTCP), the company commissioned to design the Ungka flyover and conduct soil testing on the site where the flyover was constructed, should be held accountable.

Javellana called on Congress to investigate the officials of DPWH central office and UTCP for the defective flyover.

Javellana, who is a native of Iloilo province, said Congress should heed the call of the people of Iloilo to look into the accountability of DPWH Central Office for approving the faulty design of the Ungka flyover, which is sinking based on the findings of third-party consultant Abinales Associates Engineers + Consultants.

Javellana said UTCP, the geotechnical consultancy firm commissioned by the DPWH central office to design the flyover that was based on their soil testing, should be questioned by lawmakers for the faulty design, which the Central Office cascaded to DPWH in Region 6 for implementation.

Recently, structural engineer Adam Abinales, the managing partner of the Pasig-based Abinales Associates Engineers + Consultants, told the Regional Development Council-Western Visayas’ Infrastructure Development Committee (RDC-IDC) that Pier Nos. 4, 5, and 6 of the flyover’s 16 piers sank by more than one foot between May 2022 and April 14, 2023.

Javellana agreed with Nilo Jardeleza, an Iloilo-based structural engineer who said that the design of the flyover was submitted by UTCP to the Bureau of Designs of DPWH Central Office.

Only after all the documents and necessary inspections were made that the final design and plan for the Ungka flyover were given to DPWH Region 6 for bidding, construction oversight, and quality control.

This is to ensure that the construction company contracted to build the project will strictly follow the design provided by DPWH central office and UTCP.

Jardeleza also clarified that it was clearly not part of the scope of work of the local contractor to conduct soil testing as it was already accomplished by the UTCP.

Unfortunately, the regional offices and local government authorities are now bearing the brunt of criticisms for the unsafe and defective flyover, not those who should be held accountable, Javellana said.

The repair work to stop the foundations of the flyover from sinking further carries a price tag of at least P250 million, which Javellana said would have been unnecessary had DPWH and UTCP exercised due diligence in their designs and soil study in the area.

Javellana said it is not fair for the people of Iloilo to continuously suffer from the damages DPWH and UTCP caused them, which is why he urged Congress to step in on the issue.