Engineer: Congress should launch probe into defective flyover

A structural engineer said the central office of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and a consultancy firm should be investigated by Congress in aid of legislation with regards to the P680-million Ungka Flyover in Iloilo City that closed to traffic two weeks after opening because it was found to be “sinking.”

Nilo Jardeleza, an Iloilobased structural engineer, said the vertical displacement or sinking of the flyover has become excessive, citing the National Structural Code of the Philippines (NSCP) for bridges, which limits allowable displacement of 50 millimeters or less.

Jardeleza added that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the procurement agency, shall be liable to the defect of the bridge.

“Sila na ang answerable [diyan]. The procurement agency, ‘yun talaga ang answerable,” he stressed.

The United Technologies Consolidated Partnership (UTCP) is a geotechnical consultancy firm tasked to formulate the plan and design of Ungka Flyover.

Meanwhile, Jardeleza goes against the demolition of the Ungka Flyover and believes that it can be rehabilitated for lesser expenses and for the public to use it sooner.

“Sa amin, as much as possible, as taxpayers hindi kami payag na gibain ‘yun [Ungka bridge]... Imagine sisirain mo pa ‘yung nasa taas eh ang problema lang niyan ‘yung pundasyon. So you can find any other way,” the structural engineering explained.

“Kaya i-rehabilitate na hindi na sisirain,” he said, adding that he will present plans on rehabilitation of the bridge.

The Ungka Flyover which has been stalled for eight months now has caused inconvenience for eight months to motorists and commuters traveling to and fro this city and the secondclass municipality of Pavia.

Ungka flyover was fully opened to traffic on September 5, 2022 but upon discovering a vertical displacement of the structure, it was temporarily closed after just two weeks.