DPWH cautions motorists using Kennon Road

By Carlito C. Dar

Sunday 10th of June 2012

BAGUIO CITY, June 9 (PIA) - - With the onset of the rainy season, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH-CAR) Regional Director Edilberto Carabbacan advises motorists passing Kennon Road to be extra careful as the road is vulnerable to landslides and rockslide especially with the strong and intermittent rains.

Kennon road, particularly at the Kilometer 3 along Tuba, Benguet, had just been opened to the public on a one-way status after falling debris closed it to traffic Thursday night.

Carrabacan though assured that DPWH personnel and equipment are always on a standby alert along Kennon road for immediate clearing of possible landslide or rockslide debris along the route.

Meantime, Carabbacan disclosed that the DPWH is still awaiting for the feedback from the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) that inspected the Kennon Road’s viability for a public-private partnership (PPP) project to make it an all-weather road.

Under the PPP set-up, the government will be contracting a private corporation that would invest in making Kennon an all-weather road and handle its maintenance through a toll-way system.

He said that by August the DPWH will commence a related pre-feasibility study to see the viability of the project pending the NEDA report. “We have to look at its viability first it the project would be beneficial to the government, the would- be private partner corporation and to the general public,” Carabbacan said. (JDP/CCD-PIA CAR)