ILOILO City – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 6 targets to complete the cross drainage under the Ungka flyover, particularly between piers 14 to 15 (or in front of Ungka II Elementary School), including drainage inlets, by the end of next week.
Engr. Jose Al Fruto, DPWH-6 assistant regional director, said with favorable weather, they hope to make the cross drainage functional soon.
What is the purpose of cross drainage?
Fruto explained a new cross drainage was constructed because the existing one located under the approach of the flyover (near Robinsons Place Pavia) is silted and slows down the flow of water to the outfall at the Dungon Creek in Circumferential Road 1.
“Ginpakamaayo naton nga maghimu sang bag-o nga cross drainage kay indi sia efficient (referring to old cross drainage). Nagapanaog man ang tubig pero tama ka hinay,” explained Fruto in an interview with DYSI Super Radyo Iloilo yesterday morning.
In constructing a new cross drainage, he said it is not necessary to break the road entirely, but they can only be cut more or less one meter and bury cement pipes.
The DPWH also started putting big drainage inlets in the area to speed up the entry of floodwater into the drainage system.
Currently, the DPWH-6 is working on the pipes under the flyover, but it hopes that in the coming days, they will be able to expand them to both sides of the road.
So as not to disturb the traffic, DPWH-6 plans to work at night or early in the morning.
Once completed, Fruto said motorists and the public, including Sangguniang Bayan members of Pavia, will no longer have to worry about the flooding.
On May 3 to 5, the Ungka flyover became trending on social media after netizens created memes out of the photos of flooding in the area following the heavy rains brought by a low pressure area and inter-tropical convergence zone.
Meanwhile, Fruto said that to avoid harm to the learners of Ungka II Elementary School, DPWH-6 will install a waiting area in front of the school. He said the school agreed to move the wall further inside to make room for the waiting area.
Pedestrians from the school going to Robinsons Place Pavia will also be given better access so that they will not have to wade in floodwaters during the rainy season./PN
