ILOILO CITY – The Department of Public Works and Highways fully reopened the sinking Ungka Flyover on Monday, Dec. 23.
THE Ungka Flyover that traverses Iloilo City and Pavia town fully opened on Monday, Dec. 23, 2024. (June Dale Lozada)
The controversial flyover reopened ahead of the Christmas Day reopening announced by DPWH-Western Visayas Regional Director Sanny Boy Oropel last September.
However, repairs are still ongoing, including installation of steel railings in the defective infrastructure project lobbied by former Ilonggo Sen. Franklin Drilon.
The P680-million flyover closed to vehicular traffic in September 2022 only weeks after it formally opened due to cracks. The infrastructure traverses Iloilo City and the neighboring town of Pavia. The closure caused traffic jams, especially during rush hours.
The DPWH-6 partially reopened the flyover in September 2023. However, motorcycles, bicycles, tricycles, dump trucks, transit mixers, wing vans, and trailer trucks are banned from using the flyover.
The DPWH-6 led by Assistant Regional Director Al Fruto and contractor International Builders Corp. (IBC) graced the blessing ceremony.
The Ungka Flyover is one of two defective flyovers built as the last two priority projects of Drilon. The other, the nearby Aganan Flyover, remains unfinished.