By Rjay Zuriaga Castor
The first phase of rectification for the “sinking” Ungka flyover may commence as soon as the winning bidder mobilizes the equipment to be used for the modification and restoration works of the P680-million structure.
“We already issued a notice of award and the corresponding contract agreement and notice to proceed just yesterday (January 8). I signed the notice to proceed for the Monolithic Construction & Concrete Products, Inc.,” Department of Public Works and Highways-Western Visayas (DPWH-6) officer-in-charge director Sanny Boy Oropel told Daily Guardian on Tuesday, January 9.
Monolithic Construction & Concrete Products, Inc., an engineering firm based in Davao City, secured the contract with its P95,949,996.04 bid.
According to Oropel, there were seven other bidders, including the International Builders Corporation (IBC), the flyover’s contractor.
“One of the bidders was IBC, but during the post-evaluation, the lowest calculated bid came from Monolithic Construction & Concrete Products, Inc.,” Oropel said.
Phase 1 of the rectification involves bracing to stabilize the main girders and jet grouting for the 13 piers of the flyover.
Oropel said the Davao-based firm is set to mobilize starting this week, which includes the necessary preparatory work and operations for the movement of personnel, equipment, supplies, and incidentals to the project site.
“The mobilization is for the contractor to move in the equipment needed for the first phase of the rectification of the Ungka flyover […] Within this week or maybe early this week we can start the mobilization for the rectification of the first phase of the Ungka flyover,” he said.
As for the traffic congestion in the area once the mobilization starts, the DPWH-6 head said “everything was already at risk as far as the expected rush because of the Dinagyang Festival.”
The DPWH-6 has yet to meet with the traffic bureau of Pavia town and the Iloilo City Traffic Management Unit for the preparation for the upcoming Dinagyang Festival.
“As far as DPWH-6 is concerned, ang main concern ta subong is paano makabulig sa traffic situation sa Ungka. We will be coordinating sa traffic bureau sang local government unit considering nga mag start na at least mabuligan ta sila control sa traffic,” Oropel said.
[As far as DPWH-6 is concerned, our main concern now is how to help with the traffic situation in Ungka. We will be coordinating with the traffic bureau of the local government unit, considering that we will start, at least we can assist them in controlling traffic.]
The winning contractor is scheduled to submit its detailed methodology for the first phase of the rectification to DPWH-6 this Friday.
According to Oropel, to the best of his knowledge, the Davao-based firm will start jet grouting in piers 7 and 8.
Jet grouting is a ground reinforcement technique to stabilize the soil underneath by injecting cementitious material into the ground.
On the nearby P802-million Aganan flyover, Oropel said they already submitted to the DPWH central office’s Bureau of Design (BOD) the confirmatory tests based on the soil exploration conducted by the regional office.
“We will await their observations and comments on how we can proceed with the Aganan flyover,” he added.
Construction works on the Aganan flyover were temporarily suspended in December 2022. It had reached around 70 percent completion by the suspension date.
