‘Safe’ as long as it isn’t made of marshmallow

“It is not the beauty of a building you should look at; its the construction of the foundation that will stand the test of time.” —David Allan Coe

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

THE many restrictions imposed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the “temporary” reopening of the much-vilified and defective P680-million (plus P200-million for the “repair”) Ungka flyover (UFO) in Pavia, Iloilo can be compared to a newly built but poorly constructed house turned over by the builder to the homeowner and his family for a short-term use. 

The homeowner and his family can temporarily use the new house but are prohibited from using some of the interior amenities pending the final repair of other major areas inside. 

Even if they own the house, other overweight family members have limited movements; they can’t stay together in the kitchen or extend extra time inside the bathroom.

The time to watch TV in the living room is limited; and they can’t park their cars in the garage.

It’s like telling them, the construction of the house has been finalized, but there are some finishing touches yet to be done inside. You can live there temporarily at your own risk.

If the house is still inhabitable, it’s better not to live there until after the complete redecoration and refurbishment.

 

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Under the DPWH restrictions for the flyover’s “soft” opening this week, only the two inner lanes of the four-lane flyover would be open; access to the flyover would be restricted to rush hours, from five o’clock to nine o’clock in the morning and four o’clock to eight o’clock in the evening daily. 

Barriers would block access to the flyover beyond the aforementioned hours.

Only four-wheeled vehicles, such as traditional jeepneys, modernized units, and private vehicles, would be permitted cross the flyover. Motorcycles, bicycles, and tricycles would not be allowed.

To ensure that only authorized vehicles used the flyover, an overhead “gantry” would be erected.

Based on the insistence and assurance of DPWH officer-in-charge Sanny Boy Oropel during the press conference on September 19, the Ungka flyover is safe for light vehicles only.

“We hope for the best. Our continuous monitoring provided us with the data,” he said as quoted by reports. “There has been no additional vertical movement since January after the contractor introduced jet grouting.”

We agree with Engr. Oropel that the controversial flyover is “safe” as long as it is not substandard and not made of marshmallow. 

 

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SECURITY FROM CYBERATTACK. At the 78^th UN General Assembly in New York City on September 19, eleven senior leaders joined the United States led by U.S. Deputy Secretary Richard R. Verma and Ambassador at Large for Cyberspace and Digital Policy Nathaniel C. Fick in a discussion on how to better secure cyberspace and support recovery of partners that suffer a significant disruptive cyberattack.  

Cyberspace and digital technologies offer tremendous opportunities for economic growth and development for all UN member states.  Cyberattacks carried out by criminals and nation states demonstrate the risk that cyber vulnerabilities can pose to global peace, security, and economic development, according to the US Department of State.

For more than two decades, added the State Department, UN member states have built consensus on a normative framework for responsible state behavior in cyberspace that includes the applicability of international law, non-binding peacetime norms of responsible state behavior, confidence building measures, and capacity building.  

To advance collective action on those commitments, leaders focused on practical steps to implement the framework, provide support to partners responding to and recovering from significant cyber incidents, and help all countries realize the tremendous potential of a digitally connected future.

Deputy Secretary Verma emphasized the U.S. commitment to work with other countries to strengthen global cybersecurity during the event.  

He also reiterated U.S. support for the creation of a new Program of Action at the United Nations as a flexible venue where UN member states can engage in practical discussions on how best to secure cyberspace for all.  

This is a decisive decade, and we are all in it together.

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

 

 

 

Still risky and dangerous

“The road to success is always under construction.”

—Arnold Palmer

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

LET’S hope there’s no truth to reports the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) was planning to open the scandal-ridden and defective P680-million Ungka flyover in Pavia, Iloilo to light vehicles even if it is still under repair and observation.

We still trust the expertise and wisdom of technical people—the experts and engineers—when it comes to hammering out the correct and wise decision. 

Our only concern is, opening the unfinished flyover to light vehicles can be like allowing a newly circumcised male adult to, no pun intended, participate in a horse racing, or forcing a prostitute just released from hospital after a Caesarean operation, to report back to the whorehouse.

Since it involves the public works and elevated infrastructure, the danger and risk are always clear and present.

Before any untoward incident like a collision of vehicles when certain portions of the flyover accidentally abrade or scrape away, it’s best if they will allow the flyover’s total rehabilitation to conclude first according to timetable before opening it to traffic.

We can’t experiment with safety or human life. 

It’s better to err on the side of caution. 

Or, as the saying goes, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

 

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Opening it to light vehicles might follow after the dynamic “load testing” was done last month to determine if the flyover’s piers or foundations are still sinking. 

The final decision would be known reportedly during the press conference at the DPWH regional office on September 19.

It may be recalled that the Pier 5 sank at a depth of 22.9 inches, Pier 6 at 19.21 inches, and Pier 4 impaired by 16 inches.

Now that a budget of P200 million has been reportedly set aside to fix the sinking foundations, it may be best if they let the entire rehabilitation works be completed first before any vehicle can be allowed to cross the flyover for safety purposes. 

Again, we leave the matter to the experts, the engineers, who are more knowledgeable, responsible, and accountable.

 

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There are two major issues that will forever inconvenience and torment the Filipinos: China’s non-stop incursion and harassment of our ships in the West Philippine Sea and the mind-boggling oil price increase.

If we think China will stop tailing or blocking the Philippine Navy ships in the disputed waters after a series of diplomatic protests and complaints before the international tribunal, we are wrong. 

If we think prices of fuel products, which will rise for the 11th consecutive this week as Russia and Saudi Arabia extended voluntary production cuts, will end, we are also wrong.

Both our woes with China and oil price hike are parts of geopolitics.

It is because of China’s sweeping claims of sovereignty over the sea—and the sea’s estimated 11 billion barrels of untapped oil and 190 trillion cubic feet of natural gas—that have antagonized competing claimants Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam. 

Countries began to claim islands and various zones in the South China Sea, such as the Spratly Islands, which possess rich natural resources and fishing areas, as early as the 1970s when Ferdinand Marcos Sr. was the president.

And in accordance with its Statute, the mission of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is to coordinate and unify the petroleum policies of its Member Countries and ensure the stabilization of oil markets in order to secure an efficient, economic and regular supply of petroleum to consumers, a steady income to producers and a fair return on capital for those investing in the petroleum industry.

On September 18, Pilipinas Shell and Caltex announced increases of P2.50 per liter for diesel and P2 per liter for gasoline and kerosene.

Other companies are expected to announce the same price hikes.

The adjustments took effect on September 19.

Pump prices have not slowed down since July, bringing total increases for diesel to P16.90 per liter, gasoline to P11.60, and kerosene to P15.74.

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