Earlier on Wednesday, Ilonggo engineer Nilo Jardeleza warned of an “impending disaster” if the “sinking” flyover that spans Barangay Ungka, Jaro district and Barangay Ungka II, Pavia is not repaired promptly.
The taskforce is composed of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine National Police, Pavia Emergency Responders (PAVERS), Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, barangay officials, and traffic enforces, among others.
“Para preparado kita kon ano ang matabu. Waay ta kapakot may mga linog, may mga amo na bala, mga wala ginapangayo nga circumstances,” Mayor Luigi Gorriceta said in an interview with Panay News.
The conspicuous gaps, or kat-al and angkat, observed between the girders and the cross beam of the flyover in front of a gasoline station worries the mayor, too.
He said he will also coordinate with the BFP Region 6 regional office to further train taskforce members to respond to emergency cases.
He is also planning to hire highly-skilled or expert responders from Metro Manila to help in the training.
On Wednesday, the Pavia LGU installed a closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera at the flyover focused on three piers showing vertical displacement to monitor the progress of the work being done by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and contractor International Builders Corporation.
“Para at least well-recorded ang action taken,” said Gorriceta.
On Dec. 27, 2022, Gorriceta sent a letter to DPWH secretary Manuel Bonoan requesting to expedite the geotechnical investigation of the flyover by a third-party consulting firm.
According to Engineer Jardeleza, there’s a disaster waiting to happen, citing the busy road beneath the flyover and nearby gasoline stations.
The gap between the girders and cross beam is progressing fast under the flyover’s own weight and this could accelerate if additional weight is introduced to the structure, he said.
Jardeleza was reacting to calls for the opening of the flyover to light vehicles to ease the traffic congestion in the area.
“Kon madugangan pa ina [flyover’s service load], mahulog na ang girder. Karon naga-progress ang iya nga salop ukon pagkat-al bisan wala pa sia karga kag wala sang service load. Sa bug-at pa lang sang superstructure, sang board pile, pier kag cross beam nagasalop na sia,” Jardeleza said.
It would be dangerous to introduce more weight to the flyover, he stressed.
“Delikado na ina. May impending nga disaster kon i-analyze mo gid sa pag-progreso ‘ya. Kadasig,” said Jardeleza.
At this point in time, public safety is paramount, he stressed.
Jardeleza added: “Puede pa bala maagyan ang inang sa babaw bisan light vehicles? Indi amo na ang pamangkot. Ang pamangkot amo ‘ni: San-o indi na puede maagyan ang sa dalom kay delikado, bug-at na.”/PN
