Instead of vehicles, pedestrians were seen walking over the controversial P680-million Ungka flyover located between Iloilo City and the town of Pavia due to the heavy traffic congestion.
On Monday morning, employees, students, and other people from different walks of life traversed the 453.7-meter flyover.
A social media user likened the situation to a “zombie apocalypse.”
After people swarmed to the flyover, authorities mounted barricades to prevent the public from passing through, a local news media reported.
The traffic congestion was caused by the road widening along the Ungka flyover that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is working on.
Why is the flyover closed?
The controversial Ungka Flyover, which was supposed to address the traffic in the area, has been closed to motorists since Sept. 18, 2022, just 12 days after it was opened to the public.
The reason for this closure is the “vertical displacement” or sinking of the newly built structure.
On January 10, Rep. Michael Gorriceta (Iloilo, 2nd District) penned a letter to DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan.
The lawmaker asked Bonoan to open a portion of the Ungka flyover that has completed its “retrofitting for safety and structural integrity to ease the inconveniences of the motorists.”
Ilonggos, meanwhile, lamented the traffic situation and called on the government to provide an immediate solution.
“Ungka flyover is a gigantic headache for anyone here Iloilo, especially commuters. Manawagan po tayo upang mapabilis ang tugon ng gobyerno sa lumalalang sagabal na ito sa daanan ng bawat estudyante, empleyado, tsuper, at iba pa,” a social media user said.
“DPWH Region VI what’s up??? The Ilonggos don’t deserve it and I don’t deserve it as I am religiously paying my tax!!! Pity the students!!!” a Facebook user wrote.
On January 26, members of the Makabayan bloc, namely, Rep. Raoul Manuel (Kabataan Partylist) Rep. Arlene Brosas (Gabriela Partylist), and Rep. France Castro (Act Teachers Partylist) filed a resolution that seeks to investigate the defective construction of the Ungka flyover and the delayed construction of the Agahan flyover in Iloilo.
