‘WAITING GAME’: No final solution yet on Ungka flyover; Aganan flyover construction on hold

By John Noel E. Herrera

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-6 said that there is no final solution and timetable yet on the problems surrounding the P680-million flyover in Ungka, Pavia, Iloilo.

As if it’s not enough, the P560-million Aganan flyover also in Pavia is on hold because of design reviews and possible changes.

In a meeting organized by Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas on Tuesday, Jan 10, 2023, DPWH-6 Regional Director Nerie Bueno said that they are still waiting for the recommendation of the DPWH-Bureau of Design (BOD) which hired a third party to investigate the situation of the flyover, particularly its three sinking piers.

Bueno emphasized that they could not give a timetable and final solution for now, as there are no available funds that the third-party consultant could use in the investigation.

“Once the fund is available, we can give you the timetable kasi it is dependent on the consultancy services po namin na magbibigay ng solusyon po dun sa problema, and we cannot give an official information on the solution kasi di pa namin officially engaged yung consultant,” Bueno said.

Bueno said they expect the funds to be available later this month or the next.

“Yun naman pong pagdating ng pondo, I’m sure po, siguro on January or early February my pondo na po kasi New Year naman po so surely magkakaroon ng pondo, because nung nangyari ito, when it was reported, it was late of last year, so wala nang na-allot na pondo,” she added.

She also confirmed that DPWH-6 had already started the jet grouting on two of the sinking piers, but she noted that it is just a temporary solution to prevent the flyover from sinking further.

“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 also committed that the DPWH-6 will hasten the construction of the road below the flyover to temporarily ease the traffic situation in the area, and assured to give a weekly update regarding the status of the flyover.

There is also a possibility that the flyover might be open to light vehicles during the Dinagyang Festival as Bueno has already recommended the plan to DPWH-BOD.

Meanwhile, DPWH-6 asked for the patience of the public as they were trying to find the exact solution to the problem, and not rush things that might cause added problems.

“Kaya ko to sinasabi kasi we might as well do a solution na hindi na papalpak, kasi if we are rushing, yes, siguro na-ease yung traffic, we are happy, but later on, nagkaroon na naman ng problema kasi pinipilit nating gawin, hindi pa nga sure yung reason why its like that. I just want to be proactive, and not to rush things and yet later on magkaproblema ulit,” Bueno said.

Trenas, on the other hand, threatened to declare DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan persona non-grata if he will not give an update on the flyover during his scheduled visit to Iloilo City on Friday, Jan 13, 2023.

“We are asking if he can also give us an update because if he doesn’t want to give us an update, then we can declare him persona non-grata. I am an elected official, I’m appointed, so I can do what I want,” Treñas said.

AGANAN FLYOVER STATUS

During the meeting, Bueno also confirmed that they suspended the construction of the P560-million Aganan flyover as it is situated on the same road line as the Ungka flyover.

“I told our division to suspend work dun sa Aganan and parang pareho yung lupa niya sa Ungka, so I decided to suspend muna the project para ipa-confirm yung design ng Aganan, kasi it will be very hard if we continue doing it, and later on it will be just like Ungka Flyover,” Bueno 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.

Bueno also added that even its contractor, International Builders Corporation, is not amenable to the design, one of the reasons why they requested the redesign of one of the girders.

Pavia, Iloilo SB member Pyt Trimañez, on the other hand, delivered a privileged speech on Tuesday as he learned about the contractor’s move to change the design of the flyover.

Trimañez earlier said that he received information that the contractor removed the steel sheet piling in one of the unfinished foundations, and they would only use steel, instead of concrete pilings and girders.