ILOILO City – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 6 is currently evaluating whether to extend the deadline for Monolithic Construction & Concrete Products, Inc., the contractor responsible for the Phase 1 repairs of the defective Ungka flyover.
According to Regional Director Sanny Boy Oropel, the P680-million project, located in Barangay Ungka II, Pavia, Iloilo, commenced jet grouting operations on January 8, 2024, with a scheduled completion date of May 6, 2024, under a contract worth approximately P95.95 million.
However, Oropel revealed that the completion rate of Phase 1 currently stood at only 47 to 50 percent.
Concerns have arisen regarding whether the contractor will be granted an extension or face penalties for the delays.
“I have not yet announced a decision regarding the extension of the project duration,” Oropel said.
While DPWH-6 has faced certain challenges during the jet grouting process, any decision to extend the deadline would only be made after thorough evaluation, he stressed.
Oropel also said that before deciding whether to impose on the contractor liquidated damages for not adhering to the project timeline, or to grant an extension due to significant unforeseen issues, DPWH-6 will conduct a detailed study to determine the root causes of the delay.
The potential challenges affecting the project timeline include underground utilities such as water pipelines, internet, telephone, and telecommunication wires, which were not apparent until revealed by the jet grouting process.
Additionally, traffic patterns influence the working hours on the flyover, which is open from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 9 p.m., limiting the contractor’s ability to perform continuous operations.
“The process of jet grouting is intricate, and while we are managing to loosen the soil formations under the flyover, vehicular traffic above poses a risk,” Oropel said.
He reassured the public of DPWH’s commitment to completing the project as efficiently as possible and appealed for understanding during these complex procedures.
Concurrent with the ongoing repairs, bidding for Phase 2 of the rectification project, which covers additional work on piers 4, 5, and 6 of the flyover with a budget of P200 million, has been deferred.
“It would be unwise to begin Phase 2 while Phase 1 is still incomplete, given the numerous challenges we have encountered,” Oropel commented.
Adam Abinales of Abinales Associates Engineers + Consultants, the consultant for the project, has recommended the installation of additional bored piles to significantly increase the group pile capacity at the base of the affected piers, following a detailed geotechnical investigation that showed soft soil conditions despite drilling up to 55 meters./PN
