LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- A proposed resolution passed in Benguet is asking the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) and other concerned agencies not to close Kennon Road for the next three years.
Board Member Nestor Fongwan Jr., proponent of the measure, said the DPWH, OCD and other concern agencies agreed with the proposed three-year closure of Kennon in the province for its rehabilitation. However, they have established a clamor from affected residents, barangay and municipal officials to open the vital road network.
Kennon Road, built under the leadership of US Army Officer Lyman Kennon, is currently closed to traffic but open for residents only after “Task Force Kennon” said the closure serves as precautionary measure for the historic highway which is under the threat of land and rockslides caused by previous typhoons and the inclement weather.
Discussions are ongoing whether Kennon Road, a major thoroughfare going to Baguio City and neighboring Cordillera towns, needs to undergo closure for three years following a joint committee meeting in Benguet with representatives from DPWH-Cordillera, DPWH-Benguet, OCD, Benguet Officials and Tuba Stakeholders.
DPWH Cordillera director Engineer Tiburcio Canlas on Tuesday, November 5, said data, as concrete basis, is needed for further discussion on the closure of the 34-kilometer road.
“We have to balance the safety and the needs of the people,” he said, adding he asked DPWH for initial P25 million fund for the conduct of the comprehensive feasibility study which will gather the national road’s closure effect on the social, economic aspect.
Canlas added there are already 25 identified critical sections along the road and would take P3 billion for the rehabilitation of the critical sections. Four of the 25 were already funded in 2018 and 2019.
Engineer Ireneo Gallato, DPWH Benguet First District head on Tuesday urged traveling public to be extra careful especially those who are not aware of the real characteristic of the road.
Gallato added their main concern is the ongoing infrastructure projects and maintenance of the road from Camp 1 to Camp 6.
Provincial Board Member Florencio Bentrez, former mayor of Tuba for nine years, said the closure of Kennon also affects Marcos Highway, traffic congestion, consecutive road crash and influx of motorists.
Romy Salinas, village chief of Camp 4, 5, and 6 in Kennon, added the indefinite closure of the road affected the students and different sectors in the transportation of their goods.
At least 10,000 are residing along Kennon Road covering villages Camp 1, Camp 4, 5 and 6, Camp 3, Twin Peaks, Tabaan Sur, and Ansagan.
To recall, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong earlier suggested for the three to five years closure to aid the 34-kilometer road to heal and stabilize risk of continuous soil erosions. He made the remark following an onsite inspection on the road on the third week of August.
The chief executive said the national road should naturally heal and let the loose soils fall and stabilize before the rehabilitation works.
Fongwan Jr. concluded they are pushing through with the proposed measure adding in order to have win-win solution on Kennon’s closure, there should be cooperation of all agencies as residents are open to conditions including closure of the historic road during rainy season.
This story was produced under the Road Safety Journalism Fellowship carried out by VERA Files and the World Health Organization under the Bloomberg Initiative for Global Road Safety.