ILOILO CITY – When will a flyover built on the boundaries of this city and the municipality of Pravia town at a staggering P680 million budget ever become passable?
The big question came from no less than Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas and Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. and was addressed to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
“I am asking DPWH to give a definite statement when it will be made passable and how long it will take,” said Treñas in a statement issued on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022.

The infrastructure in question is the Ungka II Flyover which straddles the villages in Iloilo City and Pavia town, Iloilo province.
The closure has been closed from vehicular traffic since September 18 and has been causing severe traffic congestion in the areas.
In a similar tone, Governor Defensor has asked the DPWH to provide the details of the flyover.
“We request DPWH for its assessment of any structural damage and corresponding engineering interventions,” said Defensor in a letter to DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan.
The statements from the two officials come as the Municipal Council of Pavia passed a resolution last week calling for a congressional inquiry on the flyover, one of the last pet projects of former Ilonggo senator Franklin Drilon.
The two leaders’ statements came just in time when the DPWH meets the Infrastructure Committee of the Western Visayas Regional Development Council (RDC-6) on Monday, Sept. 19.
The DPWH initially closed the flyover when motorists began to question the structural integrity and the work of contractor International Builders Corp. (IBC) when several cracks became visible.
It was later found out that portions of the flyover began sinking or what locals describe as ‘usmod.’
This led to questions if the geological status of the area was considered prior to approval to construct the project.
The DPWH reportedly hired a third-party firm to investigate the flyover and is awaiting recommendations.