‘WE HAVE WAITED LONG ENOUGH’: Mayor Laments Delay in Ungka Flyover Repairs

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, fresh from a major surgical operation, resumed his duties by taking a swipe at the Department of Public Works and Highways Western Visayas (DPWH-6) for delays in the repair of the Ungka Flyover.

“I am calling on the DPWH to speed up the works on the Ungka Flyover,” Treñas said in a statement on Sunday.

While the DPWH is not under his jurisdiction, Treñas highlighted the burden on over 500,000 residents who face heavy traffic caused by the prolonged repair.

As the chair of the Regional Development Council Infrastructure Development Committee, Treñas urged DPWH-6 to provide a comprehensive report detailing the remaining work and a clear timeline for the flyover’s completion.

“The people of the whole province and city of Iloilo are entitled to answers, especially during this Christmas season when everyone visits the big malls and other places in Iloilo City,” he stressed.

Treñas added that the public has “waited long enough” for the repairs and the full use of the flyover.

The Ungka Flyover, connecting Iloilo City’s Jaro district and Pavia town, was expected to cut travel time from the city to Iloilo International Airport in Cabatuan from 45 minutes to 20 minutes.

The flyover was inaugurated in early September 2022 but was closed within two weeks due to reports of sinking piers and other structural defects.

A year after its closure, DPWH-6 reopened it to light vehicles. The agency started rectification works in January, with Phase 1 nearing completion and Phase 2 beginning in October.

DPWH-6 aims to fully open the flyover’s four lanes by December 25, 2024.

Aside from the Ungka Flyover, Treñas raised concerns about the delayed drainage system project on JM Basa Street in the city proper.

“I have been receiving complaints about the effects of the delay on the residents and stakeholders. I call on the DPWH to ensure that the contractors of these projects complete them soon so that everyone will be relieved,” he said.

“The residents and businessmen are greatly affected by the delays. Maluoy man kamo tani sa mga Ilonggos!” he added.

The JM Basa Street drainage project, spanning from Socorro Drug Store to Guanco Street, is being undertaken by the Iloilo City District Engineering Office (ICDEO) of the DPWH.

The PHP 49.4-million project was originally scheduled to start on March 21, 2024, and end by January 2025, but its completion has been revised to April 2025. The contract duration has been extended from 292 to 382 calendar days.

The delays were attributed to the existence of underground utilities, including cables from Globe and the Department of Information and Communications Technology, and water lines from Metro Pacific Iloilo Water.