Ilonggos anticipate Ungka flyover House probe

“Corruption is the enemy of development, and of good governance. It must be got rid of. Both the government and the people at large must come together to achieve this national objective.”

— Pratibha Patil

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

ILONGGOS will once again focus their attention on the scheduled investigation of the P680-million Ungka flyover project in Ungka, Pavia, Iloilo to be initiated by the Committee on Public Works and Highways of the House of Representatives reportedly in the third week this month.

Residents of Pavia and Iloilo City have been anticipating the formal House inquiry after the Pavia municipal council had passed a resolution urging congress to conduct the probe.

The project contractor, International Builders Corporation (IBC), is expected to be finally given the opportunity to air its side and explain why the 453.7 lineal meters long on a bored pile foundation, including the approaches infrastructure project, suffered vertical displacement.

The defects were reportedly found in piers 4, 5 and 6.

It was already partially opened to motorists on June 30, 2022 and fully opened on Sept. 5, 2022 before it was ordered closed on Sept. 16, 2022.

It’s been 10 months since the project was “mothballed.”

According to experts, at least P250 million is needed to repair the project’s defects. 

The amount is based on estimates by Abinales Associates Engineers + Consultant, the third-party consultancy firm hired by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to conduct a geotechnical investigation on the "sinking" flyover.

The DPWH hasn’t yet disclosed where to get the money for the repair and the repair will reportedly commence in 2024.

DPWH paid more than P13 million to the third-party consultancy firm for the geotechnical investigation from March to May 2023.

 

-o0o-

 

WE join America in preparing for the celebration of the Fourth of July or Independence Day.

The celebration has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941, but the tradition of Independence Day celebrations goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution (1775-83).

THE Republic of the Philippines, on the other hand, attained its independence on July 4, 1946.

According to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), The World Factbook, Philippines: “The Philippine Islands became a Spanish colony during the 16th century; they were ceded to the US in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. 

“In 1935 the Philippines became a self-governing commonwealth. Manuel QUEZON was elected president and was tasked with preparing the country for independence after a 10-year transition. 

“In 1942 the islands fell under Japanese occupation during World War II, and US forces and Filipinos fought together during 1944-45 to regain control.”

And according to history.com, THIS DAY IN HISTORY: 1898 June 12, Philippine independence declared: 

“In April 1898, the Spanish-American War broke out over Spain’s brutal suppression of a rebellion in Cuba. 

“The first in a series of decisive U.S. victories occurred on May 1, 1898, when the U.S. Asiatic Squadron under Commodore George Dewey annihilated the Spanish Pacific fleet at the Battle of Manila Bay in the Philippines. 

“From his exile, Aguinaldo made arrangements with U.S. authorities to return to the Philippines and assist the United States in the war against Spain. 

“He landed on May 19, rallied his revolutionaries, and began liberating towns south of Manila. On June 12, he proclaimed Philippine independence and established a provincial government, of which he subsequently became head.”

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)