KENNON Road is temporarily opened for residents only.
Engineer Tiburcio Canlas, director of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the Cordillera asked the support and enforcement of the local government of Tuba for Kennon Road’s temporary opening.
“The prime objective of the [temporary] opening of Kennon Road for residents are for medical purposes, delivery of goods, immediate and other important matters but not business for example gravel and sand, that will endanger the state of the road,” stated Tiburcio.
Last week, the Cordillera Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council convened for a consultative meeting for the temporary opening of Kennon Road for the affected residents in the area.
Kennon Road has been closed since June 2018 as precautionary measure for the threats of landslides and rockslides caused by heavy rains brought by Habagat and tropical cyclones.
In a joint inspection conducted by the agency on December 22 along the 31 kilometer stretch of the road, Canlas reiterated the need for the support of the local government with the supervision of the municipal mayor, Office of the Civil Defense, DPWH, and line agencies to identify residents of Tuba and Kennon Road.
“Ang problema, we need a strong political support. Dapat visible iyong mga local government units to enforce dito sa intersections,” he added.
“Nandito ang DPWH to oversee the operation. But in so far in the restriction of the vehicles its already tasked to the mayor of Tuba to identify and give us a copy of the vehicles that should pass Kennon Road that are supposed to be residents and not commuters coming from the South or from the North.”
“Sira pa ang Kennon Road,” added the regional director citing the highway is still undergoing rehabilitation and a study recently sought to identify other sections that should be rehabilitated aside from the nine critical areas mentioned in previous press briefing.
Ongoing works continue including rock netting and the P71 million construction of new bridge along Camp 5 which can accommodate 36 tons. The 50-meter bridge is eyed for completion on February 28 next year.
Motorists and tourists going to Baguio City and Benguet province are advise by police and the local government to take the newly open road to evade traffic. This after the department inaugurated the alternate route, Asin-Nangalisan-San Pascual, Tuba, Benguet-Tubao, La Union leading to Benguet and Baguio City. With the newly open route for light vehicles only travel time is reduced to 45 minutes to one- hour drive from Tubao in La union to Baguio City.
The agency met this week to discuss matters on the temporary opening and a signing of Memorandum of Understanding crafting the terms and conditions of the brief opening of the Kennon Road.