ILOILO – Ten days after reopening the inner lanes of the Ungka flyover to light vehicles, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 6 has confirmed that there has been no observed displacement on the structure.
DPWH Region 6’s officer-in-charge, Engr. Sanny Boy Oropel, said they have been monitoring the structure from its reopening on Sept. 22.
“Fortunately, no vertical displacements have been detected. We monitor round the clock and, as of today, no such displacements have been noticed,” Oropel told Panay News yesterday.
To ensure meticulous tracking of the structure’s stability, DPWH-6 has stationed survey teams beneath the flyover. These teams focus primarily on monitoring any movements, especially on piers 4, 5, and 6, as vehicles pass overhead.
The survey teams conduct their checks during two critical windows: 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
Oropel said these checks are repeated four times within each window to maintain data consistency.
He also said the decision to reopen the flyover was evidence-based, underpinned by the load test they conducted earlier.
The director emphasized that their decision wasn’t impulsive and that they are prepared to defend it robustly.
“Our actions are calculated, not risky. Our decision to hold a press conference was made with the readiness to defend our choice to reopen, primarily to alleviate public traffic concerns,” he said.
Oropel clarified that the reopening was not a move to gain commendation, but a genuine effort to address the traffic congestion in the Ungka area during peak hours.
Daily Monitoring Reports to City Council
Starting Monday, DPWH-6 began submitting daily monitoring logs to the Iloilo City Council, presided over by Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon. This follows Oropel’s commitment made during his presentation at the Sangguniang Panlungsod the previous week.
“We’re starting our submission today [Monday], and we will accompany it with an official communication,” Oropel added. These reports will also encapsulate the monitoring results from the past week./PN
