UFCC manifesto decries DPWH, UTCP fault in Ungka Flyover

The United Filipino Consumers and Commuters (UFCC) has decried the sloppiness of the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) Bureau of Designs for wasting P680 million of taxpayers money for the faulty Ungka Flyover in Iloilo.

According to UFCC president Rudolfo Javellana Jr., a manifesto they uploaded on social media stated that the DPWH Central Office as well as the United Technology Consolidated Partnership (UTCP), the company commissioned to design the flyover and conduct soil testing on the site where the flyover was constructed, should be held accountable.

He called on Congress to investigate the officials of the Central Office of DPWH and the UTCP for the defective flyover.

Javellana, who is a native of Iloilo province, said Congress should heed the call of the Ilonggos to look into the accountability of the DPWH Central Office for the approval of the faulty design of the flyover, which is reportedly sinking.

UTCP, the geotechnical consultancy firm commissioned by the Central Office to design the flyover based on their soil testing, should be questioned by lawmakers for their faulty design, which the Central Office cascaded to DPWH-6 for implementation, said Javellana.

Recently, structural engineer Adam Abinales, the managing partner of the Pasig-based Abinales Associates Engineers + Consultants, told the Regional Development Council-Western Visayas’ Infrastructure Development Committee (RDC-IDC) that Pier Nos. 4, 5, and 6 of the flyover’s 16 piers sank by more than one foot between May 2022 and April 14, 2023.

Javellana also agreed with Nilo Jardeleza, an Iloilo-based structural engineer who said that the design of the flyover was submitted by UTCP to the Bureau of Designs of DPWH Central Office.

Only after all the documents and necessary inspections were made that the final design and plan for Ungka flyover were given to DPWH-6 for bidding, construction oversight and quality control.

This is to ensure that the construction company contracted to build the project will strictly follow the design provided by the DPWH Central Office and UTCP.

Jardeleza also clarified that it was clearly not part of the scope of work of the local contractor to conduct soil testing as it was already accomplished by the UTCP.

“Hindi na nila masaparan, so naga-kuha sila sang mga consultant. So, that is why kinahanglan maid-id ina ang pamaagi para sa pagkuha sang consultant kag naga-require ina sang amendments or revisions,” he said.

“May ara kita sang sistema nga dapat liwaton. That is why kinahanglan gid na ang investigation sa congress in aid of legislation nga i-upgrade naton ang aton review kag ang personnel sang naga-review. Ining mga consultant kinahanglan ma-investigate man sila kag ma-verify,” Jardeleza further said.

Javellana said it is now the regional office and the local government authorities that bear the brunt of criticism for the unsafe and defective flyover and not those who should be held accountable.

The repair work to stop the foundations of the flyover from sinking carries a price tag of at least P250 million, which Javellana said would have been unnecessary had the DPWH and the UTCP exercised due dilligence in their designs and study of the soil in the area.