Photo iFM News Iloilo
ILOILO – Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 6 director, Engr. Sanny Boy Oropel, has hailed the Ungka Flyover in Barangay Ungka II, Pavia, Iloilo, as an exceptionally cost-effective infrastructure project. Oropel’s statements are based on a comprehensive review of the project’s financials, which have revealed significant cost savings.
The key highlight of this assertion is the relatively modest expenditure incurred for the construction of the flyover’s superstructure, spanning 453.70 linear meters and accommodating four lanes of traffic. The total cost for this aspect of the project amounted to a mere P540.28 million.
This cost stands in stark contrast to the conventional estimates for similar bridge construction projects, which typically approach the P1 billion mark. Standard calculations consider a cost of P1 million per linear meter (LM) for two lanes. Consequently, for a project of this length and width (four lanes), the expected cost would fall within the range of P900 million to P1 billion. The observed discrepancy between this estimate and the actual expenditure highlights the project’s cost-effectiveness.
Oropel explained that a major contributing factor to this cost reduction was a design flaw in the Unified Toll Collection Project (UTCP). This flaw led to not only financial savings but also necessary modifications to the project’s structure. One of the prominent design shortcomings was identified in the depth of the flyover’s piers, particularly affecting piers 4, 5, and 6, where vertical displacement was detected.
As it stands, the bored piles embedded in piers 4, 5, and 6 reach a depth of only 28 meters, a factor that played a pivotal role in the project’s alterations. While design and construction errors may have surfaced during the course of the flyover project, they have, unexpectedly, paved the way for an economically efficient project that upholds high-quality standards. The benefits of this endeavor are poised to positively impact the local community.
