ILOILO City – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 6 allocated over P13 million for the third-party consulting firm that conducted a geotechnical investigation on the vertical displacement of the P680-million Ungka flyover in Barangay Ungka II, Pavia, Iloilo.
The third-party consulting firm’s winning bid was P13,480,880.
The contract was signed on March 2 by DPWH-6 regional director Nerie Bueno and Adam Abinales, managing partner of Abinales Associates Engineers + Consultants based in Pasig City, Metro Manila.
“The entity is desirous that the consultant execute contract ID No. 23CSG001 (negotiated procurement) – consulting services for the detailed evaluation and detailed engineering design for the Ungka flyover, Iloilo, Region 6 hereinafter called the ‘services’ and the procuring entity has accepted the bid for P13,480,880 by the consultant for the execution and completion of the services within ninety calendar days and the remedying of any defects therein,” read part of the three-page contract and agreement published at https://www.dpwh.gov.ph.
The specifics of the consultants’ work were not included in the contract and agreement, aside from “consulting services for the detailed evaluation and detailed engineering design for the flyover.”
DPWH-6 assistant regional director Jose Al Fruto said among the three bidders, Abinales Associates Engineers + Consultant stood out because, aside from the geotechnical investigation as their expertise, they offered a lower contract amount.
“Indi lang na lower in cost, although it counts, but more of the ano, sa ila technical expertise man,” said Fruto.
The geotechnical investigation started on March 3 and will end this May, or after 90 calendar days.
The result of the consultant’s investigation will be presented at the Regional Development Council 6 meeting on Monday, May 15.
On Tuesday, May 9, Iloilo’s Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. hinted that a portion of the flyover would undergo repair.
The governor had a Zoom meeting with officials of DPWH-6 and a representative of the third-party consulting firm that conducted a geotechnical investigation on the Ungka flyover.
Geotechnical investigation, according to trenchlesspedia.com, implies the use of different methods to determine the physical properties of soil and rock below the surface of the earth at a proposed installation site. It helps engineers make decisions regarding the type of tools that will be required to dig through the site in the most economical manner. It also assesses the potential environmental impact that a project may have on a particular area.
Geotechnical investigation is an essential step in any trenchless operation because knowledge of subsurface conditions is key to a successful project.
It will focus on determining the cause of the vertical displacement of settlement in piers 4, 5 and 6 (if counting the posts from Christ the King Memorial Park) and formulating the appropriate intervention for the defect./PN
