ILOILO City – Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 6 director, Engr. Nerie Bueno, said she is ready for a congressional inquiry on the defective P680-million Ungka flyover by the Committee on Public Works and Highways of the House of Representatives.
“If they think that’s the best thing to do, then I cannot prevent them from doing that. But if their intention is to give a solution, we can solve it by ourselves,” Bueno said in an interview with Panay News, adding that everyone has a right to request an inquiry.
She also pointed out that the beginning of the flyover’s construction was not during her term.
She assumed the position around the third quarter of 2022, taking over from former DPWH-6 regional director, Engr. Tiburcio Canlas.
Construction started on January 2020.
The Ungka flyover is 453.7 lineal meters long on a bored pile foundation, including the approaches. The project contractor was International Builders Corp.
It was partially opened to motorists on June 30, 2022 and fully opened on Sept. 5, 2022.
From Sept. 16, 2022 until the present, the structure was closed by the DPWH after vertical displacement was found in piers 4, 5 and 6 (if counting the posts from Christ the King Memorial Park).
If an inquiry pushes through at the House of Representatives, Bueno said she could only give information on the actions taken, in which she pushed for a geotechnical investigation.
“Wala akong masyadong participation, I did not know how it was constructed kasi there are factors resulting to this kind of things. Ako as far as I know wala naman ako noon so I have nothing to answer aside from what actions ang ginagawa ko,” added Bueno.
The director also said that she even went to the DPWH central office multiple times to follow up and expedite the application of engineering intervention on the Ungka flyover under the pressure of Ilonggos, especially since she is on the frontlines.
However, Bueno insisted that she should not be “onion skinned” amid the criticisms as it was part of the job although the regional director asked not to be attacked personally.
“Ako kasi as much as possible I don’t want to pinpoint fingers, I do not have any supporting documents to back what I’m going to say kasi sabi nga nila if you destroy a name, it’s not only the person itself, but the whole family so mahirap ‘yon,” added Bueno.
Last week, Iloilo 2nd District’s Cong. Michael Gorriceta said Surigao del Sur 1st District’s Rep. Romeo Momo, chair of the Committee on Public Works and Highways of the House of Representatives, assured that there will be a congressional inquiry on the Ungka flyover.
But no specific timeline was promised yet.
Gorriceta said it could be after the State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on July 24./PN
