ILOILO – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 6 has not provided a specific timeline for the resumption of construction of the P802-million four-lane Aganan flyover in Barangay Aganan, Pavia town.
The delay is attributed to the ongoing search for a P15-million fund by the DPWH-Central Office to hire a third-party consultant for soil testing or soil exploration at the site.
DPWH-6’s acting regional director, Engineer Sanny Boy Oropel, said they are waiting for the release of funds by the Central Office to initiate the bidding process for hiring a third-party consultant.
The need for a third-party opinion arises from a dispute over the flyover’s design between the United Technology Consolidated Partnership (UTCP), who claims their design is based on accurate soil test data, and the DPWH-6, whose confirmatory and seismic tests have shown differing results.
The UTCP, hired by the Bureau of Design (BOD) of the DPWH-Central Office, conducted the initial soil tests and designed both the Aganan and the controversial defective Ungka flyovers in Barangay Ungka, Pavia.
Oropel assured that once the Central Office releases the funds, expected “in a month’s time,” they will immediately open bidding for the third-party consultant.
Oropel emphasized the importance of having a third-party consultant act as a neutral judge to avoid bias in the ongoing dispute over the flyover’s design. Construction has been temporarily halted since December 2022, especially the installation of girders at the 50-meter span intersection.
When completed, the Aganan flyover would be 436.90 meters long including the protection approaches and right of way./PN
