BAGUIO CITY-Japanese and Korean consultants will be brought in by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to facilitate the preparation of rehabilitation plans for the conversion of the scenic and historic Kennon Road into an “all-weather road,” Secretary Vivencio “Dizon said here Saturday.
The secretary rode a bike from Camp 1, Tuba, Benguet up to the city proper, traveling around 30 kilometers to take a closer look at the situation of the major roadline linking the lowlands and the country’s undisputed Summer Capital.
Dizon noted the immediate need for the public works department to restore a road cut along Camp 2 and a road slip between Camp 4 and Camp 5 to help ensure the smooth travel of motorists along the shortest route from the lowlands to the city and vice versa.
The DPWH official said the foreign consultants will look into the best possible means of ensuring that Kennon Road will be open to traffic year-round to help sustain the growth of the city’s tourism industry by making the city accessible to travelers via the shortest route.
He said part of the agency’s ongoing initiatives is to review previous feasibility studies that had already been undertaken and work on recommendations that remain viable, aside from studying proposals to convert the said road into a toll road.
According to him, it is important for the agency to prepare the appropriate plans for the road, ensure funding, and guarantee proper execution of the projects to achieve the goal of making it an “all-weather” road in compliance with the marching orders of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for the agency to ensure proper maintenance of the country’s infrastructure and immediately complete unfinished works to avoid compromising the safety of motorists.
Dizon said that the agency will be able to complete the initially identified works, such as the road cut and road slip, before the Holy Week break next month to ensure the road will remain open to light vehicles and help reduce the heavy volume of traffic along Marcos Highway, one of the major roads leading to the city, when people flock to the Summer Capital to enjoy their well-deserved break or retreat.
He said the agency can immediately work on the proper maintenance of the country’s infrastructure because of a higher allocation provided under the 2026 national budget, unlike in previous budgets when maintenance funds were limited, making it difficult to implement major maintenance works on roads and bridges.
Kennon Road was formerly known as the Benguet Road, which was built by thousands of Filipino and American personnel in the early 1900s to connect the lowlands to the mountain city.
Dizon said the agency will try to ensure that all necessary works along the major roadline will be completed while also working on long-term solutions to guarantee what is envisioned as an “all-weather road” leading to the Summer Capital.
