ILOILO – Second District’s Cong. Michael Gorriceta said the at least P250 million estimated expense for the repair of the Ungka flyover is costly.
The amount was estimated by the third-party consulting firm Abinales Associates Engineers + Consultants.
“Ang initial reaction ko namahalan ako kag nadakuan ako sang amount nga gin-quote sang third-party nga consultant. Pero hulaton ta ang DPWH kung kumporme or naga-agree sila sang amount,” Gorriceta told Panay News.
He said it would be more enlightening to know the program or scope of work to see if the P250 million worth of repairs is worthy of taxpayers’ money.
“Kay ang nasiling ko na ang ginagasto ta diri daku ang kantidad… kag halin ini tanan ang kwarta sa ginabayad sang mga pumoluyo,” added Gorriceta.
He expressed willingness to help find savings or unappropriated funds from the national government that have not yet been spent to fund the repair of the flyover.
“Isa sa nalantaw ko puede ang savings or unappropriated funds halin sa national government nga wala pa magasto. Puede gid ina mabuligan namon nga mga kongresista nga i-lobby didto,” he said.
As to the calls for an inquiry on the Ungka flyover, he said he is waiting for a schedule from Congress.
Kabataan party-list’s Rep. Raoul Danniel Abellar Manuel filed a resolution requesting a House inquiry on the Ungka flyover. Gorriceta said he has shown support by co-authoring with other representatives from Iloilo.
“Gusto ta gid mabal-an kon ngaa natabu ini,” he said.
Gorriceta backs geotechnical probe on Aganan flyover
The 2nd District congressman also believes that it would be better to assess the Aganan flyover in Barangay Aganan, Pavia while the girders have yet to be installed along the 50-meter-span intersection.
Undersecretary Roberto R. Bernardo of the DPWH confirmed that the P802-million Aganan flyover will also undergo geotechnical investigation. It would determine if the soil underneath the structure is soft, which could consequently cause displacement.
“Luyag ko man ma-assess kag malantaw man ang sa bahin sang Aganan flyover while wala pa mabutangan sa ibabaw sang girders kag mga support. Puede pa madugangan sang suporta ukon beams kag kon ano pa gid ang puede nga ma-imprubar sa desinyo,” Gorriceta said.
He added that he only wants to make sure that the flyover would be safe to the motorists and riding public.
“Kinahanglan ma-assure ta gid kag kita him-os ang isip kag pinsar nga mag-agi kita safe kita, amo lang na ang importante dira, both safe ang sa babaw kag sa idalom kay, ti, indi ta luyag nga may matabu nga digrasya,” he said.
Bernardo estimates that around P10 to P15 million is needed for the Aganan flyover’s geotechnical investigation.
There is no chosen consultant for the investigation yet, he said, because it will be done through bidding.
DPWH may start preparing the budget next week so that the bidding process can start immediately, he added.
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 most economically. 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./PN
