ILOILO City – Following an incident on December 24 where a wing van got stuck under the vertical clearance signage of the Ungka flyover, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) called on the traffic management bureaus of the Iloilo City Government and the Pavia, Iloilo local government unit (LGU) to strictly enforce traffic regulations.
DPWH specifically emphasized the prohibition of certain vehicles from using the flyover, including dump trucks, transit mixers, wing vans, trailer trucks, motorcycles, tricycles, and bicycles.
Regional Director Sanny Boy Oropel clarified that unfamiliarity with or lack of awareness of traffic regulations should not be an excuse for violations.
“It shouldn’t be a reason for anyone, even non-locals, to disregard traffic rules. That’s why I am asking for assistance and cooperation from our LGUs to strictly enforce the restrictions on the flyover,” Oropel said in an interview with Panay News.
He explained that such traffic regulations are not exclusive to the Ungka flyover but are implemented across all flyovers, particularly to prevent large vehicles from occupying entire lanes, which could impede traffic flow.
The Ungka flyover stretches from Barangay Ungka, Jaro, Iloilo City to Barangay Ungka II, Pavia. Straddling the major intersection of the Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue and President Corazon Aquino Avenue in Barangay Ungka II, it is meant to ease traffic congestion in this crucial point that leads in and out of Iloilo City.
While some motorists have called for larger traffic signs before the flyover approach, Oropel said this is not feasible as oversized signage could obstruct drivers’ line of sight and potentially cause accidents.
He added that vehicles prohibited from using the flyover can instead pass underneath, eliminating the need for them to insist on access that could inconvenience other motorists.
Since DPWH Region 6 lacks police authority to apprehend violators, the enforcement of traffic rules is delegated to the traffic management bureaus of Iloilo City and Pavia, Oropel explained.
When asked about enforcing restrictions during nighttime hours when traffic enforcers may not be present, Oropel expressed hope that motorists would voluntarily comply with the regulations, noting that the prohibitions have already been publicized.
“We have set these regulations in place, and it’s important for motorists to follow them even without constant monitoring,” he said.
Since the flyover’s full opening on December 23, the DPWH has observed significant improvements in traffic flow, particularly under the flyover at the intersection of the Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue and President Corazon Aquino Avenue.
“After the opening on December 23, we monitored the area on December 24 and conducted a traffic count. The results showed minimized congestion below and smooth traffic flow on the flyover’s four lanes,” Oropel said.
Oropel appealed for public understanding and cooperation to ensure smooth and continuous traffic flow on the flyover and to avoid a repeat of incidents like the one on December 24./PN
