ILOILO City – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 6 estimates that P210 million is needed to rectify the Aganan flyover in Barangay Aganan, Pavia, Iloilo.
The project, which has a total budget of P802 million, is expected to be completed and opened to the public by September 2025.
DPWH-6 director Engineer Sanny Boy Oropel disclosed in a press conference on Saturday, Sept. 28, that the same rectification procedure used for the Ungka flyover may be applied to the Aganan flyover.
Both flyovers were found to have similar structural issues, particularly with the depth of the piers, which did not reach the hard strata or refusal stage.
“We are expecting that the Aganan flyover will undergo the same rectification process as the Ungka flyover, where jet grouting was applied at the base of the piers,” Oropel explained. “However, the rectification for Aganan will be easier since the slab has not yet been installed.”
The Ungka and Aganan flyovers share the same location and design, which was created by United Technology Consolidated Partnership (UTCP), a firm hired by DPWH’s Bureau of Design.
A confirmatory and seismic test conducted by DPWH-6 showed different results from the original soil test by UTCP. According to UTCP’s data, hard soil was found at a depth of 20 meters, but DPWH-6’s tests revealed that the hard strata is actually at 40 meters or deeper.
To resolve the discrepancy, DPWH-6 hired a third-party consultant, Abinales Associates Engineers + Consultants, to conduct a geotechnical investigation. While awaiting the results, Oropel did not rule out the possibility that the same rectification method used for the Ungka flyover would be recommended for Aganan.
Based on the jet grouting cost for the Ungka flyover, Oropel estimated that each pier would require P10 million for rectification. Since the Aganan flyover has 21 piers, the total rectification cost is projected at P210 million.
Oropel also clarified that the P210 million budget is solely for repairs, while the remaining P308 million from the original P802 million budget will be used to complete the flyover. This remaining amount is already available and will be allocated for the completion of the project.
During the press conference, Oropel mentioned that he had received an initial commitment from DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan to secure funding for the rectification of the Aganan flyover.
Engr. Adam Abinales of Abinales Associates Engineers + Consultants stated that the geotechnical investigation would be completed by October 2024, with the recommended design submitted to DPWH-6 by November 2024. Once the design is submitted, DPWH-6 will review it and secure the necessary budget to begin repairs by January 2025.
Former senator Franklin Drilon, during the press conference, asked Oropel about the project’s timeline. Oropel responded that the rectification work would start in the first or second quarter of 2025, with a target completion date of September 2025.
Upon completion, the total cost of the Aganan flyover will reach P1.012 billion, surpassing the P980 million total cost of the Ungka flyover (P680 million for construction and P300 million for repairs).
Oropel also mentioned that two options are being considered for the 50-meter span at the center of the Aganan flyover: changing the design from concrete girders to steel girders, or adding an additional pier for more support./PN
