ILOILO City – The P341-million repair cost for the defective Ungka flyover in Barangay Ungka II, Pavia, Iloilo is being questioned. Why should it be sourced from the public?
A second inquiry was conducted by the House of Representatives’ Committee on Public Works and Highways, chaired by Surigao del Sur 1st District’s Rep. Romeo Momo, at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City.
On Nov. 22, they tackled House Resolution No. 721 by Kabataan party-list’s Rep. Raoul Danniel A. Manuel which, aside from an inquest into the defective construction of the Ungka flyover, also covers the delayed construction of the Aganan flyover.
The Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) request for an additional P341 million should not be supported by the committee, said 1-Rider party-list’s Rep. Bonifacio Bosita, as it would mean tolerating the mistakes made.
“I insist dapat imbestigahan iyan at i-hold po ang P340 million, otherwise magkakaroon na naman ng kaso, magkakaroon na naman ng investigation. At ‘yung nakaupo ngayon sa parte ng DPWH pagna-spend ‘yung P300 million kayo ay iimbestigahan din,” said Bosita.
Zamboanga Sibugay’s Cong. Wilter Palma also questioned the budget request.
“Ang aking concern is the additional P300 plus million, which you can use for other purposes po sana, like, for example, the construction of school buildings, social services, and so on. It’s just very easy for you to source the unprogrammed funds just to accommodate the repair of this bridge,” said Palma.
Manuel agreed with the two lawmakers on holding the release of the rectification budget, even the P100 million for the first tranche.
He again raised his request with the committee to hold the next hearing, if there is one, in Iloilo for the lawmakers to see the flyover themselves and hear the sentiments of Ilonggos.
The second inquiry was joined by USWAG Party-list’s Rep. James “Jojo” Ang and DPWH officials, including DPWH-6 officer-in-charge Engr. Sanny Boy Oropel; DPWH-6 assistant director Engr. Jose Al Fruto; former DPWH-6 director Tiburcio Canlas; Undersecretary Roberto R. Bernardo; Assistant Secretary for Regional Operations Nerie Bueno; Engr. Adam Abinales; a representative from project contractor International Builders Corporation (IBC); and committee members.
During the inquiry, Oropel also updated the committee on the decision to partially open the flyover beginning in September.
“Since then until today, we did not observe any vertical displacement (piers) 3, 4, 5, and 6, including all piers of the flyover,” said Oropel.
He then discussed the recommended rectification and disclosed that DPWH-6 is now awaiting the download of the first tranche worth P100 million for the jet grouting of 13 piers.
Here, Manuel questioned who would carry out the rectification, and Bernardo noted that the DPWH-6 should implement the repair as per the recommendation of the third-party consultant.
DPWH-6 will conduct a bidding to determine who will carry out the rectification.
“Based on the recommendation of the third-party consultant, the total rectification works budget is P341 million, which includes jet grouting and new bored piles,” Oropel said.
He also explained to the committee that they do not have a timetable for the release of the General Appropriations Act. But once the budget is released next year and the bidding begins, rectification may be completed by July 2024.
“We will still be open for light vehicles during the window hours while we are doing the jet grouting,” Oropel added.
Abinales, managing partner of Abinales Associates Engineers + Consultants, had previously recommended additional bored piles as a solution for the settlement issues of some piers. This approach will enhance the overall pile capacity but may require the removal and replacement of existing prestressed concrete girders.
For other piers, underpinning with intensive jet grouting is advised, reaching depths of up to 100 meters.
Currently, the inner lanes of the Ungka flyover are operational during specific hours from Monday to Saturday.
DPWH-6 aims to complete the rectification by July 2024 and fully reopen the flyover by the first week of August 2024, weather permitting./PN
