A TOTAL of P3.7 billion will be needed for the total rehabilitation of the 34-kilometer historic Kennon Road which will be considered as an all-weather highway once finished.

Engineer Tiburcio Canlas, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – Cordillera director, reiterated the need for Kennon to undergo massive rehabilitation for the road to be used even during inclement weather.

“We consider this as a one time–big deal project because various road construction development will be done at Kennon Road using timely engineering interventions and systems for it to become an all-weather road system,” Canlas said.

Based on an updated plan for the rehabilitation of Kennon Road, the placement of various slope protection methods will be done in different sections of the highway.

At least 21 critical sections have been identified along Kennon Road with 14 sections eyed as first priority or areas that need immediate action due to the imminent danger, while the seven sections are in the second priority.

Five sections of the first priority areas need bigger intervention such as building of rock sheds to address the perceived rock mass which tends to erode, while critical areas identified is in need of rock netting with slope trimming, retaining walls, crib walls, and soil nailing.

Of the proposed P3.7-billion funding, at least P640,000 has been funded and implemented this 2019 which includes rock netting with retaining wall and slope trimming.

Albert Mogol, Cordillera Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and Office of the Civil Defense - Cordillera director, said the rehabilitation should be done in such a way that it is to be a disaster resilient construction.

“Now is the time that when we build or construct such road developments, it should be able to address the effects of climate change,” Mogol added.