A LAWMAKER is seeking a full, detailed engineering and technical study of Kennon Road before they can determine the funding to make it into an all-weather road.
In his weekly radio program at Radyo Pilipinas Baguio, Congressman Mark Go requested the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)–Cordillera to allot a specific budget for the complete and total comprehensive, engineering and technical study for Kennon Road for 2020 and for its total rehab by 2021.
The DPWH-Cordillera earlier said it needs P38 billion to make Kennon an all-weather road entailing the construction of a series of tunnels, bridges and slope protection.
“I am not sure how the DPWH came up with this budget which is why we want to have an engineering and technical study for Kennon Road and from there we can define how much we will be spending for the total rehab of Kennon Road. I requested Usec. Catalina Cabral to help us in coming out with a budget to support the complete technical and engineering study of Kennon Road,” Go said.
Go explained the need for this measure to be done to prevent the continuous temporary repairs particularly after the rainy season and to finally put a permanent fix at Kennon road.
“I have discussed this with one of the undersecretary of the public works and what she suggested was to do this through a public – private partnership so that the government would not spend for Kennon Road repairs. They will be tasked to start the construction, maintain and repair Kennon, aside from ensuring that it would be passable 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 30 days a month which I think is a good option,” Go said.
If approved, a new system of toll collection will be imposed for the maintenance of Kennon Road.
“At present, the toll fee being collected is too small at P15 while when we go to Subic, the cost of the toll fee is at P25 for how many kilometers which definitely cannot finance the overall rehabilitation and maintenance of Kennon Road. This is the reason why I insist that this should not be touched for the meantime but instead come up with a total study and in the next six months for this to be finished so that by the coming year, an honest to goodness and complete construction of an all - weather road will be done,” Go stated.
Although majority of the 34-kilometer road is located in the Province of Benguet, Go believes that Benguet Congressman Nestor Fongwan is in support for the total rehabilitation of Kennon Road.
“We filed a bill in Congress for the complete rehabilitation of a Kennon Road and all the members of the committee on public works have approved our measure and I am sure that Congressman Fongwan is in support of this plan and he is welcome to be a co-author of the bill,” Go added.
DPWH-Car Regional Director Tiburcio Canlas earlier explained 25 critical sections were identified reassessed at Kennon with four sections funded for 2018-2019, while the remaining 21 critical section were categorized as priority 1 and priority 2.
Priority 1 has 14 sections with five areas budgeted for P507 million for 2020, while priority 2 having seven sections will be for future funding.
The long term plan for Kennon Road would amount to P38 billion.