PUBLIC OUTRAGE; Various sectors join forces vs Ungka flyover fiasco

Protesters light candles at the defective flyover in Barangay Ungka II, Pavia, Iloilo. They demand for an investigation. AJ PALCULLO/PN
Protesters light candles at the defective flyover in Barangay Ungka II, Pavia, Iloilo. They demand for an investigation. AJ PALCULLO/PN

BY RHENJIE MARIE CALANTAS

ILOILO – There must be accountability for the defective P680-million flyover in Barangay Ungka II, Pavia town, according to cause-oriented groups and representatives from the religious sector, academe, labor, and professionals, among others, that gathered for an indignation rally late afternoon yesterday.

To dramatize their point, the protesters staged the rally at the barricaded approach of the flyover (Pavia side, in front of GT Mall).

Secretary-general Elmer Forro of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) – Panay said the rally was only the beginning.

“Magasige-sige ini tubtob malab-ot sang mga pumuluyo ang hustisya kag mapasabat ang dapat manabat,” said Forro.

All the 16 piers of the Ungka flyover have vertical displacement (sinking), according to third-party consulting firm Abinales Associates Engineers + Consultants hired by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to conduct a geotechnical evaluation on the flyover.

This Friday, May 26, different groups would meet again and plan their next action, including possibly filing charges and asking the Senate to conduct an inquiry, said Forro.

At least P250 million more is needed for the repair, according to Abinales Associates Engineers + Consultants. This would jack up the cost of the Ungka flyover to nearly P1 billion.

DPWH paid P13.480 million for the geotechnical evaluation alone.

The repair is projected to take 10 months to complete, and its budget sourced from DPWH savings in Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 or from the FY 2024 budget.

Iloilo City councilor Plaridel Nava, who also joined the rally, said a group he assembled would file a complaint next week before the Office of the Ombudsman.

“We have siguro 10 days to prepare, isa na lang ka document nahulat namon, ang sa third-party consultant. Practically we have already the documents kag indi na namon pagpalawigon, next week we will file the case, either Thursday or Friday next week,” said Nava.

The Ungka flyover was opened to traffic for two weeks only on September 2022. It was closed when vertical displacement was noticed on three piers.

Neneth Jagonasi, a resident of Zone 1, Barangay Ungka II, Pavia, shared her sentiments to Panay News during yesterday’s rally.

She said she joined because they were affected during flooding beneath the flyover.

“Pagbaha da ang tubig sa amon gasulod. Ang mga apo ko indi ka eskwela kay ang tubig taga-diri (pointing her knees). Ga-ugtas gid kami na da ya, wala gid ni ya pulos ang ila obra,” said Jagonasi.

For his part, driver Rowel Tipawan said they took part at the rally, the transport sector being the most inconvenienced by the flyover.

“Kami sa transport ang pinaka-apektado gid. Perwisyo ini sa amon,” said Tipawan, vice chairman of Iloilo City Loop Alliance of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association-Western Visayas Transport Cooperative.

He added: “Kadaku-daku nga kwarta ang na-uyang sang gobyerno. Iya ‘ni sang pumuluyo. Naluoy kami indi lang sa amon sa transport, kundi sa kabilugan, ilabi na sa mga estudyante kag naga-ululubra nga ma-late permi tungod sa traffic diri.”/PN

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