INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
ILOILO CITY鈥擳he Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Western Visayas will be given the opportunity to answer questions from local lawmakers here and neighboring towns over the current situation of the Ungka Flyover which sits between the city and Pavia town.
Councilor Sedfrey Cabaluna, chairperson on the city鈥檚 council鈥檚 transportation committee, said an informal inquiry will be conducted on Friday, October 7.
鈥淲e鈥檇 like to get an update now on what [the DPWH] is doing, how long it would take, and get from their mouth, categorically, if this is a regular occurrence. We鈥檇 like to know if they are still in control of the situation and whether this can be addressed and fixed for the public welfare,鈥� said Cabaluna after the city council鈥檚 regular session on Wednesday.
He said Engr. Jose Al Fruto, assistant regional director of the DPWH, has committed to attend the inquiry.
Also invited were councilors from Pavia, San Miguel, Leganes, and Oton towns which 聽may be affected by the flyover鈥檚 temporary closure, particularly as it is a main thoroughfare going to the Iloilo International Airport in Cabatuan town.
While they also invited the flyover鈥檚 contractor, the International Builders Corporation (IBC), Cabaluna said the DPWH in the region has expressed its full responsibility.
鈥淸The DPWH-6] said that it was their responsibility, citing that the design was theirs but was being implemented [by the IBC]. If there are concerns, they are the ones deciding what to do with it. They said that they are taking on the whole responsibility, but we鈥檒l still invite [IBC],鈥� he said.
He said that given that the flyover was a national government project, the outcome of the inquiry may push the council to make recommendations to the DPWH-6 and the agency鈥檚 central office.
The P680-million Ungka Flyover, which was opened to the public in the middle of this year, was closed in mid-September after public complaints online over the 鈥渨avy feel鈥� while driving over it, as well as reports and images of flooding at the top of the flyover during rainy days.
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