ILOILO CITY – Secretary Manuel Bonoan of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is not amenable to reopening the substandard Ungka II Flyover, a pet project of former Sen. Franklin Drilon, to ease traffic in the 2023 Dinagyang Festival here next week.
“Unfortunately, it cannot make it. I don’t recommend that this will be opened to the general public,” Bonoan told the Iloilo media after personally inspecting the flyover closed to vehicular traffic since September.
“We will not open it until we know it's safe,” Bonoan emphasized.
The Ungka II Flyover located between Iloilo City and Pavia town in Iloilo province was built to ease traffic and make traveling smooth between here and the Iloilo Airport in Cabatuan town, Iloilo.
The P680-million flyover was initially closed after cracks were found. But with the flyover sinking, DPWH is now looking at vertical displacement as the ground underneath may not be stable enough to support the structure.
Bonoan refuted a public pronouncement from Iloilo City Rep. Julienne “Jamjam” Baronda that quoted him as saying that the flyover will reopen for this year’s Dinagyang.
He said that Baronda might have misunderstood his statement and reiterated that he told her he is coming to Iloilo by third week of this month to inspect.
Bonoan reiterated that DPWH has yet to find the solution as it has to discover the root of the problem.
During Bonoan’s visit, DPWH was conducting load testing to determine the behavior of the structure to light vehicles. He said that the flyover might be open in time “for the 2024 Dinagyang Festival.”
Bonoan was accompanied by DPWH-6 Director Nerie Bueno and representatives of contractor International Builders Corp. (IBC).
He also inspected the nearby Aganan Flyover which the DPWH ordered IBC to stop construction. The P560-million flyover is in the same area as the Ungka Flyover and the soil status may also be a problem.