DPWH chief orders repair of Kennon Road rock shed

TUBA, Benguet – Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan on Monday said he has ordered repairs on the Kennon Road rock shed project, which President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. inspected the day before.
In an interview, Bonoan assured that the rock shed remains effective in shielding motorists from falling rocks, but acknowledged that recent landslides caused by a series of weather disturbances last month weakened the structure.
The DPWH chief visited Tuba to inspect the riverbed below the rock shed and to assess how to better safeguard the structure.
He said the rock shed remains intact and continues to serve its purpose. Falling rocks from about 300 meters high damaged an old crib wall below but the rock shed itself withstood the impact.
He likewise assured the public that no funds were wasted.
The project, estimated at PHP498 million, had to be scaled down to 151 meters due to budget limitations, leaving parts of the slope unprotected.
Report to PBBM
Bonoan added that he will brief the President on the original design of the rock shed, which was intended to span 250 meters to fully cover the hazardous section. He said DPWH-Cordillera Administrative Region will submit a report Tuesday.
“I will report to the President on the current status of the rockshed, the challenges brought by the reduced scope and the real story behind the project,” he said.
On Sunday, Marcos denounced the PHP260-million rock shed project along the major road as “useless,” confirming reports that the structure’s slope protection had disintegrated, causing soil collapse, rock falls and closure of a portion of the vital thoroughfare.
Bonoan explained that the rock shed was built in response to a study identifying the instability of Kennon Road’s mountain slopes, which frequently trigger landslides.
“Dito sa area na ito nagkaroon ng assessment (An assessment was made in this area). One of the suggestions is a rockshed,” he said.
Advantages
Despite defects, Tuba Mayor Clarita Sal-ongan said they are thankful for the protective structure against landslides.
“Itong rock shed, malaking tulong sa taga-Kennon Road. Kung wala iyan, talagang bumuhos ‘yan (land-rockslide). Baka na-wash out pa ‘yang kalsada (The rock shed helps Kennon residents a lot. Without it, the land and rockslide could have been worse and the road washed out),” the mayor said in an interview Monday.
“This area is really loose because this mountain used to be a mining area called Black Mountain in the 1950s, then came another mining company that also operated here, aside from the earth movement due to the (1990) earthquake.”
Barangay Camp 4 chief John Dogao said that before the rock shed’s construction, strong rains would render the area impassable.
“We commute daily and we hope they will complete the whole project so that there will be no more landslides in the area. The rock shed is good but it’s not yet complete. I hope the government gives the whole budget so that we can have the complete solution,” Camp 3 resident Dianna Garas said.
Francis Cuyop, engineer and owner of 3K Rock Construction which built the rock shed, said unstable mountain conditions made it difficult to finish the project.
“We were already able to install about 14 meters long of the slope protection beside the mountain when it was again damaged due to a big landslide so we had to redo everything. It was a difficult project but growing up here at Camp 6, I know how important this slope protection is to Kennon Road residents so I had to ensure that I do my responsibility,” Cuyop said in an interview. **Liza Agoot