Ombudsman calls DPWH attention over delayed flyover project
The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to explain the delay in the completion of the P400-million flyover project in Iloilo City.
Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol told The News Today in a telephone interview yesterday that their office has asked the DPWH to respond to complaints and queries why the project has not been completed despited the lapse of its target date of completion last September.
The DPWH earlier suspended the work of British contractor Mabey and Johnson Ltd., due to alleged technical discrepancies in some portions of the project.
It said the the contractor failed to comply with the project's specifications, specifically the required strength of reinforced bars and piers that support the pre-fabricated structures.
The project was started last April 15 and was to have been completed last August. But the target date of completion was moved by a month before the DPWH announced the suspension of the work of the the contractor.
The DPWH took over the work to complete the project which involved the reinforcing of four of the six piers and the tie bean between the columns of each pier.
Citing a letter by DPWH Executive Director Emil Sadain in reply to the query of the Office of the Ombudsman, Apostol said the DPWH has assured the completion of the project by the end December this year.
The DPWH said in its letter that reinforcements had to be undertaken to beef up the tensile strength of beams. The DPWH had said that the contractor failed to comply with the required tensile strength of Grade 60.
The reinforcements cost P3.8 million and will be charged to the contractor, according to the DPWH letter.
The flyover, the first to be constructed in Iloilo, covers a length of 305 meters with a standard load capacity of 20 tons. It is intended to decongest traffic in the intersection of Infante and Gen. Luna Streets, one of the main intersections in the city.
But commuters have complained of the delay in the completion of the project which has caused traffic jams especially during peak hours.
Pelagio said they will wait for the report of the Commission on Audit to determine if their were irregularities aside from the technical discrepancies announced by DPWH.