ILOILO CITY- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 6 has clarified that they are not at fault for the issues arising in the construction of the Ungka Flyover. Instead, the root of the problem has been attributed to a design flaw.
During a recent press conference, Engr. Sanny Boy Oropel, the Officer-in-Charge Regional Director of DPWH 6, emphasized that their supervision was not lacking in overseeing the project. Oropel explained that they had relied on the United Technologies Consolidated Partnership (UTCP), which was commissioned by their central office for the project’s design.
It was only discovered on September 22, 2022, that there was a significant defect in the project. Specifically, a vertical displacement issue was identified along the 743.3 linear meters of the flyover. The most substantial displacement was observed at pier no. 6, while piers 4 and 5 exhibited minimal displacement, attributed to a weak foundation caused by soft soil.
Regarding potential liability issues related to UTCP, Engr. Oropel refrained from providing further comments during the ongoing investigation.
