ILOILO City — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is considering the possible blacklisting of the consultant it tapped to prepare the designs for the troubled Ungka and Aganan flyovers in Pavia, Iloilo, following serious structural issues that have driven up project costs and raised questions over design integrity and public safety.
Public Works Secretary Vivencio “Vince” Dizon said United Technology Consolidated Partnership’s (UTCP) work is now under scrutiny, noting that UTCP was commissioned by DPWH central office to design the two flyovers plagued by defects.
“I have to investigate what they did. I was told nga ‘yung Cabagan (bridge in Isabela Province) sila din ang nag-design and ‘yun nga, bumagsak. Kakabukas pa lang ata bumagsak na. So we will investigate,” said Dizon.
He added: “If they are repeatedly giving us faulty design, they need to be sanctioned, and one of the sanctions is possible blacklisting.”
However, Dizon stressed that any move to blacklist UTCP will depend on the outcome of the investigation into the Ungka and Aganan flyovers, as the government seeks to determine accountability before imposing sanctions.
Earlier, Dizon said DPWH would probe why the two flyovers encountered major problems, citing the sinking of columns at the Ungka Flyover and the insufficient depth of buried piers at the Aganan Flyover.
“But we will prioritize muna ‘yong pagtapos (of the delayed Aganan Flyover). Someone has to answer for this,” he said.
Dizon underscored that accountability is crucial, especially as the defects have resulted in additional government spending for repairs.
“‘Yung Ungka (Flyover) kailangan ko din imbestigahan kasi dagdag na gastos ‘yan na hindi naman nangyari kung tama ang ginagawa pagpa-plano, ‘di ba?” he added.
DPWH records show that UTCP’s role in the Aganan Flyover included preparing the structural design and determining the depth of the piers.
UTCP data indicated that hard strata was reached at 24 meters, which became the basis for the pier depth. However, confirmatory and seismic tests conducted by DPWH Region 6 later showed that hard strata could only be found at depths of 40 meters and beyond.
UTCP also designed the Aganan Flyover to use concrete girders for the 50-meter span at the intersection, a choice questioned by DPWH-6 which pushed for steel girders to reduce weight.
For the Ungka Flyover, UTCP likewise designed the structure and recommended pier depths that were later found insufficient to reach hard strata, prompting DPWH-6 and the International Builders Corporation contractor to undertake jet grouting to stabilize the foundation.
Dizon said the investigation aims to establish responsibility and prevent similar costly design failures in future infrastructure projects.
The four-lane, 453.7 lineal meters long Ungka Flyover suffered vertical displacement two weeks after it opened to traffic in September 2022 and had to be fixed before it was deemed safe enough for public use in December 2024.
The Ungka Flyover’s original cost was P680 million. Due to the repairs, its total cost ballooned to nearly P1 billion.
The P802-million Aganan Flyover’s construction was halted in the late part of 2022 after concerns were raised similar to Ungka Flyover’s. Until now, it remains unfinished./PN
