Tulfo slams delayed P657M Mabuhay Underpass, P802M Aganan Flyover projects

Senator Raffy Tulfo has raised concerns about the delayed and defective construction of the P657-million Mabuhay Underpass National Highway project in General Santos City, which began in June 2022 and is significantly behind its September 2024 completion date.

He noted complaints from locals regarding poor traffic management and highlighted issues such as inactivity, misaligned structures, uneven surfaces, and unsafe conditions within the underpass project.

Senator Tulfo also questioned the necessity and planning of the underpass, criticizing the installation of LED lights as a wasteful expenditure.

Separately, Tulfo is questioning the failed construction of the P802-million Aganan Flyover in Pavia, Iloilo, which has been causing inconvenience to residents.

The soil testing for the flyover was conducted by United Technology Consolidated Partnership (UTCP), the same firm involved in the collapsed Cabagan-Sta. Maria Bridge in Isabela.

According to the DPWH, UTCP made errors in assessing the foundation depth for the Aganan Flyover, leading to project delays and severe traffic congestion.

The Aganan Flyover project, which started on July 6, 2020, with a two-year completion target, remains unfinished.

Out of the P802 million budget for the flyover, only P308 million remains, with an additional P275 to P300 million potentially needed due to revisions resulting from UTCP's faulty soil testing.