BY IME SORNITO and MA. THERESA LADIAO
ILOILO – Following two separate incidents within three days where over-height vehicles rammed into the vertical clearance bar of the Ungka Flyover in Pavia, Iloilo, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 6 is seeking heavier penalties on violators to deter future damage and ensure motorist safety.
Regional Director Sanny Boy Oropel said the agency is seriously considering engaging the traffic management bureaus of the Iloilo City and Pavia local government units to explore the imposition of stiffer fines on drivers and transport companies who ignore the height restrictions imposed on the over P900-million flyover.
“This is no longer a simple issue of non-compliance. These repeated violations compromise safety and damage infrastructure. If the fines are substantial, drivers might think twice before attempting to pass the flyover,” said Oropel.
The first incident occurred on the morning of April 7, when a bus outsourced by Southwest Travel and Tours Inc. hit the clearance bar on the Pavia side of the flyover, damaging the steel pipes and railings. The company has since committed to pay for the repairs and was fined P100,000.
Barely 48 hours later, on April 9, a wing van driven by a Cebu-based driver identified only as “Jun” also struck the clearance structure. The van was found to have expired registration documents, and the company was likewise fined P100,000. The driver now faces a separate P1,500 penalty and possible charges for reckless imprudence resulting in damage to property.
Both vehicles were prohibited from using the flyover, which has a current vertical clearance of three meters. A gantry with signage clearly indicating the height restriction is in place to alert motorists. Despite this, some drivers still attempt to force their way through, resulting in accidents and traffic disruptions.
DPWH has long banned the passage of heavy and large vehicles — such as dump trucks, transit mixers, wing vans, trailer trucks, buses, motorcycles, tricycles, and bicycles — over the Ungka Flyover. These restrictions are standard for flyovers to prevent traffic congestion and complications in case of vehicle breakdowns.
Oropel clarified that DPWH Region 6 is not responsible for issuing the fines, but is counting on the traffic bureaus of Iloilo City and Pavia to assess and enforce stricter penalties. He floated the idea of requiring violators not only to pay a fine but also to shoulder the full cost of repairs to damaged infrastructure.
“Increasing the penalty may be the key. The damage these vehicles cause delays everyone. We appeal to all drivers to respect our restrictions — it’s for everyone’s safety,” said Oropel.
While DPWH plans to eventually raise the clearance height to 4.27 meters once the shoring and curing works on the flyover’s remaining piers are completed, Oropel emphasized that restrictions will remain in place until such adjustments are safely implemented.
He also dismissed calls for larger warning signs, citing safety concerns.
“Oversized signs might block the view of motorists and cause even more accidents. The current signage is sufficient — drivers should know their vehicle’s height,” he said.
The Ungka Flyover, which connects Barangay Ungka in Jaro, Iloilo City to Barangay Ungka II in Pavia, was constructed to ease congestion at the intersection of Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue and President Corazon Aquino Avenue./PN
