Is the Philippine Flag Pole Project really worth 7.86 Million Pesos?

7.8 million pesos for a flag pole? This has been the outrageous question that netizens have been asking since the project was discovered during the Million People March last August 26. News reports and social media have been in disbelief due to the cost of this project. As engineers ourselves we had to ask ourselves if this price is realistic or not. Our first article will be to provide the logical facts about this project. Comments are greatly encouraged.

First is the back story of this project. This flag pole project is part of the “Beautification of Rizal Park” project proposed back in 2011. Under this project would include the following

1.)    Senior Citizen’s Garden

2.)    Restoration of Pedestrian Lanes

3.)    Restoration of Auditorium

This project is done purposely to commemorate the 150^th death anniversary of our national Hero Dr. Jose Rizal, namesake of the park itself. And as such, the old 105 ft flagpole was changed to a 150 ft one. 150^th anniversary, 150 ft. We just wonder if it will ever reach a thousand feet?

Going to the engineering part, we would show  how is a typical flagpole set up.

Why does it cost so much?!

First of all, every structure must be able to withstand every kind of force acting on it. In the case of flag poles, wind load factors in the most. According to the wind profile power law, as altitude increases, wind speed increases.

Below is a sample wind profile of the Philippines when experiencing “severely extreme” wind speeds.

Side note:

By the way, how high is 150 ft?

This means that the National Flag Pole will have to resist a great amount of force. The situation calls for sturdier components and some engineering.

To summarize,

Therefore, the taller the flagpole, the more costly it becomes.

How much does it cost to purchase and construct?

So here are our initial assumptions. Do you think the project is overpriced?

But wait, there’s more!!

Apparently, the winner of the contract, AKH construction and IBANAG HERITAGE FOUNDATION ( NGO headed by VP Jejomar Binay and Senator Enrile ) have the same contact numbers. They must be sharing the same landline. Plus the head of AKH construction is also an officer and board of trustee of the said NGO. What does this mean? Only one thing for sure. Kudos to our Vice President and Senator for supporting all BIG TICKET projects.

~quod erat demonstrandum (the conclusion of the demonstration)

References:

http://www.usflag.com/our-products-2/flagpoles/monster-flagpoles/

http://www.american-flag-superstore.com/150-Ft-MegaBig-Flagpole-Steel-150ftflagpole.htm

http://www.flagpolesetc.com/flagpoles/colossal-flagpoles.html

http://www.americanflagstore.com/media/wysiwyg/flagpolepartsdiagram.jpg

http://www.concordindustries.com/

httpwww.stadtentwicklung.berlin.deumweltumweltatlase_abbea403e01.gif

www.deq.mt.gov/energy/wind_atlas/atlas/pdf/Chapter5.PDF

http://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/researchNDRB.html

http://www.modernsteel.com/Uploads/Issues/July_2007/30767_flagpole_web.pdf