ILOILO CITY, Philippines – First, the Ungka flyover in Iloilo was observed to be sinking after it was opened to traffic. Then, given the ongoing repairs, the cost of the entire project is about to shoot up to nearly P1 billion.
The Department of Public Works and Highways Western Visayas (DPWH-6) said it had awarded the contract for Phase 2 of the flyover’s rectification works to the International Builders Corporation (IBC), with civil works set to begin in October.
This cost of the construction was at P680 million, but P13.5 million was needed for a third-party investigation, and P96 million for Phase 1 of the repairs. Now, the second phase of the repairs has a budget of P200 million, bringing the total cost of the project to P989.5 million.
The IBC is an Iloilo-based construction firm that handled the original construction of the Ungka flyover.
Amid criticisms from the public, DPWH-6 Director Sanny Boy Oropel said IBC was the “most qualified” contractor.
“Of all the structures IBC has undertaken, we have not observed any problems with them because the problem with the flyover was with the plan,” he said.
The detailed engineering design (DED) for the Ungka flyover was made by the United Technology Consolidated Partnership (UTCP).
A third-party investigation of the Abinales Associates Engineers + Consultants also confirmed that UTCP’s design caused the vertical displacements in several piers of the flyover.
Oropel also maintained that DPWH-6 cannot be blamed for the defects since they were just implementing UTCP’s approved plans.
“We are very confident of the steps that we are taking, and let us give DPWH-6 the chance because we will not allow our reputation to be tarnished just because of the Ungka flyover,” he added.
Four-lane use starting December 25
“We will give it as a Christmas gift,” said Oropel as he announced that all four lanes of the Ungka flyover will be opened for vehicular traffic on December 25, 2024.
Oropel emphasized that opening the flyover on Christmas Day is also in anticipation of the influx of tourists for the Dinagyang Festival in January.
“All the decisions that we made for the Ungka flyover were based on scientific review and application so we could show that the structure would be open to full capacity to traffic,” he said. He noted that they would conduct an extended continuous monitoring to ensure the flyover’s structural integrity.
Since September 2023, only the two inner lanes of the four-lane flyover have been open to light vehicles, to facilitate ongoing repairs and reduce traffic congestion in the area.
The flyover was initially opened to traffic in September 2022, but was closed two weeks later due to confirmed sinking of the structure.
Oropel added that Phase 1 of the repairs, which started in January 2024, had reached 85% completion as of September. This phase involves jet grouting for pier 1, 2, 3, 11,12, 13,14, 15, 16 and part of the abutment leading to the Iloilo International Airport.
Meanwhile, Phase 2 will use the same procedure for the remaining piers, portion of abutment going to the airport, and whole of abutment leading to Iloilo City.
In jet grouting, the contractor will inject a high-pressure grout mixture into the ground to stabilize the soil and enhance its load-bearing capacity.
The IBC will also remove the existing wearing surface, apply the Geofoam System to correct the flyover’s vertical design profile, and install metal railings and claddings.
Another flyover: P15.4 million for the study of Aganan infra
In the nearby Aganan flyover, which costs P802 million and is on the same road section as the Ungka flyover, an additional P15.4 million will be spent for the geotechnical investigation of its design.
Oropel said they had awarded the contract to the Abinales Associates Engineers + Consultants as the third-party consultant.
“Because of some observations made in the Ungka flyover, we want to make sure that the Aganan flyover will not have the same fate,” Oropel said, noting that the consultancy firm had begun its study.
The study aims to reconcile the disparate results of soil test results between the DPWH-6 and the UTCP, the firm that also made the DED of the flyover.
UTCP’s tests indicated a foundation depth of 24 meters, while DPWH-6’s tests suggested a depth of 54 meters for stability.
The Aganan flyover was already 70% complete when its construction was suspended in December 2022. – Rappler.com
Rjay Zuriaga Castor is a 2024 Aries Rufo Journalism Fellow. He is a reporter for The Daily Guardian, an Iloilo-based newspaper.
