Kennon Road to be opened for 2 weeks

TUBA, Benguet, Philippines — Kennon Road will be opened to motorists for two weeks starting Feb. 14. 

The Cordillera Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CRDRRMC) signed a memorandum of understanding with Task Force Kennon Road to open the 38-kilometer stretch of the road for light vehicles in preparation for the expected influx of visitors during the Baguio Flower Festival and Philippine Military Academy alumni homecoming next month.

Kennon was closed to traffic in August due to landslides and unfinished rehabilitation work.

“The road will revert to serve only residents along Kennon Road... Our priority is still the safety of the residents and the commuting public,” Albert Mogol, CRDRRMC chairman and Civil Defense Cordillera director, said. 

The municipal council of Tuba, Benguet passed a resolution on Nov. 15 requesting the Department of a Public Works and Highways to open Kennon Road for residents of Barangays Camps 4, 3 and 1, Twin Peaks, Tabaan Sur and Ansagan.

The residents said the closure of the road affected their lives, businesses and livelihood.

“Once the activities in the city are finished,  Kennon Road will again be closed to the public...  If there would be a need to reopen the road, we will have to make a new assessment again to ensure its viability for public use,” Mogol said.