BY IME SORNITO, RHENJIE MARIE CALANTAS, MARY JOY CAVAÑAS & JENNY ROSE BAYLON
ILOILO City – Although thankful for the noticeable ease in traffic congestion, motorists have expressed concerns regarding the safety and usage restrictions since the reopening of the Ungka flyover.
Four days after the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 6 reopened the flyover’s inner lanes to light vehicles on Friday, Sept. 22, Panay News roved around the Ungka area to gauge public sentiment.
Traditional jeepney driver Junie Ortijo of Passi City mentioned he now hears fewer complaints about delays from passengers. However, he believes the traffic flow would be smoother if the flyover is open throughout the day.
As per DPWH guidelines, the flyover is only accessible from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Ortijo also expressed his anxiety when passing beneath the flyover, fearing it might collapse.
“Kay ti siempre nagabigay ang tatlo ka poste, ti daw kurulbaan kon agyan gihapon sa ibabaw,” he explained.
Another traditional jeepney driver, Freddie Romero, 58, from Jaro district, chooses not to use the flyover as he picks up passengers below.
Romero added: “Daw nagligwa naman ang dalan umpisa sang nabuksan. Wala naman gawa problema sa traffic kung aga kag kung mag-rush hours kay tayuyon na kay maagyan na ang sa babaw.”
Joseph Somo from Sara, Iloilo, is grateful for the flyover as it facilitates quicker travel to Iloilo Airport in Cabatuan town.
When asked about whether he fears the flyover might collapse, he said “Waay na ya. Haka-haka lang ya marupag, marumpang mo bala ang amo na nga structure? Galing ang ginakahangaw-an lang nila kay may gamay lang nga pag-usmod dira.”
Taxi driver Vic Flores from Banate acknowledges the flyover’s benefits but also feels hesitant when using it.
“Basi kon gulpi lang mag-usmod,” he said.
Student Joy Camacho of Iloilo Science and Technology University in La Paz district shared that her daily commute has been eased. She hopes that the DPWH-6 will promptly address the flyover’s defects so it can operate at full capacity.
However, modernized jeepney drivers like Renan of Barangay Balabago, Jaro, and Clint Benida of Buenavista, Guimaras, expressed disappointment, wishing they could use the flyover.
“Pabor man tani sa amon nga modernized jeepney drivers ang pagbukas sang Ungka flyover kay mahagan-hagan ang traffic galing kay may limit kag wala kami ginapasugtan magsaka,” according to Benida.
Overhead gantries were installed to ensure that only authorized vehicles within the height limit use the flyover.
Student Nicky Silong of West Visayas State University in La Paz observed that primarily private vehicles use the flyover.
“San-o usually mga private cars ang ga-akupar sang space sa dalom which is indi ta man sila mabasol kay sarado gani ang flyover. Pero since bukas na siya agud ma-avail sang mga private cars, daw mas matawhay na gawa sudlan sang mga commuters,” Silong said.
New Lucena jeepney driver Ressurrecion Suedad still finds the traffic situation unchanged, while another driver, Ullysis Parahinog, finds the flyover’s reopening both beneficial and problematic.
Elementary school teacher Jean Dhen Palcullo from Pavia was surprised that the flyover was operational despite its structural issues. Although data from the load test conducted by DPWH-6 exists, Palcullo remains skeptical about the flyover’s safety.
“Delikado gid nga gamiton, indi mo mabal-an ang iya kapasidad basi karon nag-traffic jam gulpi kag ang imo salakyan sa babaw gid ka flyover. Basi indi ya madala ang bug-at kag magdiretso man lang paidalom bala,” she said. “Amo na gani nga wala na kami naga-agi sa flyover.”
In agreement with this sentiment, call center agent Orville Coronado of Badiangan town is reluctant to use the flyover since it remains unrepaired.
“Considering its current unsecured state, it might be better to avoid it due to fears of a sudden collapse,” said Coronado./PN