Ungka flyover’s consultant to study design of Aganan flyover

Abinales Associates Engineers + Consultants is set to serve as the third-party consulting firm to study the design of the long-stalled P802-million Aganan flyover in Pavia, Iloilo.

The Pasig City-based consulting firm received a Notice of Award from the Department of Public Works and Highways-Western Visayas (DPWH-6) on August 28 for its consulting services for the detailed evaluation and engineering design (DED) of the flyover.

The DPWH-6 stated that the firm submitted the “highest rated responsive bid” for the consultation services, with a total contract cost of P15,325,050. According to DPWH-6 bidding documents, the consulting service was initially pegged at P15.4 million.

The funding for these consultancy services is allocated under the General Appropriations Act 2024.

Under the terms of the bidding contract posted earlier this June, the consulting firm will conduct a thorough investigation of the current structure, including material testing and structural analysis.

If necessary, the firm is expected to suggest immediate remedial actions to prevent any imminent danger to the public.

The firm will also identify potential permanent engineering solutions, such as retrofitting and reconstruction, among other measures.

In addition, the consultancy firm will develop its own DED for the project, which will include detailed engineering plans and specifications, as well as cost and quantity estimates.

Abinales Consultants is the same firm hired by DPWH to study the cause of the vertical displacement in the piers of the defective P680-million Ungka flyover.

Following the Notice of Award, the firm has 10 days to submit the necessary documents, including a signed award notice, performance security document, and a signed contract agreement.

Failure to comply with the requirements will constitute sufficient grounds for the cancellation of the firm’s award and the forfeiture of its bid security.

From the date of contract approval, DPWH will then issue a Notice to Proceed within 15 calendar days.

DPWH-6 director Sanny Boy Oropel previously told the Daily Guardian that the third-party consultancy was necessary due to disparate results from soil tests conducted by DPWH-6 and United Technology Consolidated Partnership (UTCP) on the Aganan flyover.

While UTCP’s tests indicated a foundation depth of 24 meters, DPWH-6’s tests suggested that a depth of 54 meters was needed for stability.

“Since we [DPWH-6] are asserting that their depth is much shallower and UTCP claims theirs is correct, we might as well call for a third-party consultant to give their opinion on who is telling the truth,” he explained.

UTCP is the same geotechnical consultancy firm commissioned to design the P680-million “sinking” Ungka flyover, which is currently undergoing rectification works estimated at P200 million after vertical displacements were recorded in the superstructure.

Given the similarities with the Ungka flyover, DPWH-6 fears that the Aganan flyover might face a similar fate if not thoroughly checked.

“If we base it on our confirmatory and seismic tests, the Aganan flyover should have the same depth of foundation as the Ungka flyover,” Oropel added.

The DPWH-6 director said that in addition to confirming the appropriate depth of the pillars for the Aganan flyover, recommendations from the third-party consultant will help the agency decide on the necessary structural interventions to address the lagging progress in the flyover’s construction.

The initial plan for the Aganan flyover, spanning 436.90 meters, involved using concrete girders for a 50-meter span intersection area. However, after issues arose with the Ungka flyover, a switch to steel girders was suggested.

The construction of the Aganan flyover was temporarily halted in December 2022, with about 70 percent of the project completed as of the suspension date.