Why Dizon wants Japanese, Korean consultants for Kennon roadworks

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – The Department of Public Works and Highways will tap consultants from Japan and South Korea to craft a comprehensive rehabilitation plan for Kennon Road, as part of efforts to convert the historic mountain highway into an all-weather route, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said.

Dizon said the hiring of foreign consultants would help address persistent slope protection and landslide issues not only along Kennon Road but across mountainous areas in the Cordillera region.

The success of improvement and rehabilitation projects in Marcos Highway and Halsema Highway by Japanese and Korean groups, respectively, led to Dizon’s decision. 

In the early part of 2000, the Japan International Cooperation Agency worked on the Marcos Highway, particularly in the oft-eroded Badiwan District, where a tunnel-like rock shed was constructed in a landslide-prone section with soft ground.

While landslides continue to occur in the area, the DPWH noted that since the completion of the protective structure, no road or vehicle damage due to falling rocks has been recorded. The project also included rockfall fences, reinforced stone walls with concrete spraying, and the replacement of a vulnerable bridge with an elevated span to prevent burial by debris.

In Halsema, the World Bank tapped Korean contractor Daewoo E&C Limited to work on the Benguet side from 2003 to 2006, and the contractor also delivered, despite local militia harassment.

Dizon said the department would review previous feasibility studies to determine viable engineering recommendations. He added that the agency is tasked with securing funding and overseeing implementation, in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to complete pending infrastructure projects and improve road safety.

Maintenance works on the priority sections are targeted for completion before the 2026 Holy Week break to allow light vehicles to pass and ease congestion along Marcos Highway, the alternate route to the city.

Dizon bared the plan after he led a 30-kilometer inspection from Camp 1 in Tuba, Benguet, to Baguio City to assess the road’s condition. The agency identified priority repair sites, including a road cut at Camp 2 and a road slip between Camp 4 and Camp 5 in Tuba.

The 2026 national budget includes increased allocations for infrastructure maintenance, which Dizon said would cover immediate repair needs.

He also confirmed that P270 million has been set aside to continue construction of a rock shed along Kennon Road, including the remaining 100 meters of the protective structure. The original rock shed sustained damage in July 2025 at the height of Typhoon Emong.

“Nakita naman natin na effective ang rock shed. Ang problem lang nabitin dito, ito ang tinamaan,” Dizon told reporters, noting that the structure had proven effective in shielding the road from falling rocks and mudslides but was not fully completed before being hit by storms.

Kennon Road, a 33.5-kilometer zigzag highway linking Rosario, La Union, to Baguio City, was built in the early 1900s and remains one of the shortest routes between the lowlands and the mountain city.

Dizon said ensuring a solid foundation for the remaining rock shed is critical to protecting both the roadway and motorists.

“I think that when this is done and completed, Kennon will be protected and the road section will also be protected, which is critical,” he said.

The broader rehabilitation aims to keep Kennon Road open year-round, particularly during heavy rains, to support tourism and provide a reliable access route to Baguio City. The DPWH said it would continue monitoring the site to ensure both temporary repairs and long-term engineering solutions are carried out effectively. – Rappler.com