By Rjay Zuriaga Castor
The long-delayed Ungka Flyover in Iloilo will finally be completed by the end of March, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways-Western Visayas.
DPWH-6 Director Sanny Boy Oropel said all major civil works are finished, with only asphalt overlay on the road beneath the structure remaining.
“All we are going to do in the Ungka Flyover is our asphalt overlay,” Oropel told Daily Guardian in a phone interview.
“Our asphalt overlay, we will finish it by March 30,” he added.
Oropel said they aim to complete the work on schedule if weather conditions remain favorable and no unforeseen problems occur.
One key challenge is the aging water pipes of Metro Pacific Iloilo Water, which were installed in the 1970s.
Past pipe bursts and leaks in the area delayed previous works due to their susceptibility to vibrations and environmental stress.
The Ungka Flyover was fully reopened on December 23, 2025, after more than a year of limited access caused by structural issues.
The flyover had been closed since September 2022 due to sinking piers and persistent flooding during heavy rains.
Oropel said that while the flyover is now structurally sound, continuous monitoring remains in place to ensure public safety.
“Even though we already opened the Ungka Flyover to full capacity last December 23, we are still continuously monitoring the structures underneath,” he said.
“DPWH-6 will not stop monitoring the Ungka Flyover,” he emphasized.
Since the start of the jet grouting and curing process, DPWH-6 has reported no signs of settlement or structural anomalies.
“I could only say that with the opening of our Ungka Flyover, we attained the requirement where we can say that the flyover is safe,” Oropel added.
The flyover originally cost PHP680 million to construct.
Rectification works following the structural problems added an estimated PHP300 million to the project’s total cost.
