ILOILO City – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) may not be able to meet its target to reopen the flyover in Barangay Ungka II, Pavia, Iloilo before Christmas.
“Ang ila to ginpagwa sang nagligad nga by December ma-open na, indi man sila ka assure,” said Councilor Johnny Young of Iloilo City.
Citing the statement of DPWH assistant regional director Jose Al Fruto, Young said the agency will wait for the recommendation of their consultant from the department’s central office.
Three defective piers of the newly-built P680-million Ungka flyover are undergoing repairs.
Young, who chairs the Sangguniang Panlungsod committee on engineering, construction and public works, earlier conducted an investigation-in-aid -of-legislation regarding the flyover’s vertical displacement traced to the defective piers.
The flyover was fully opened to traffic on Sept. 5 but was closed to traffic 13 days after to vertical displacement, cracks on the decking and water pooling there.
“The DPWH central office, its Bureau of Design and consultants have been studying the structural behavior of the flyover since its closure to ascertain the progress and root cause of the settlement of the piers,” according to Young.
In the meantime, Young’s committee will push for an ordinance requiring proper signage and lighting near construction sites to alert pedestrians and vehicles of danger and maximum tonnage that can be accommodated by flyovers.
“The chairman will pass an ordinance addressing this issue since this seems to be prevalent in most construction sites, both public and private,” he said. (With a report from Philippine News Agency)/PN
