Marcos on Kennon Road projects: Useless

President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. on Sunday inspected two infrastructure projects in Tuba, Benguet where he described the P273.93 million rock shed project as “useless.”

“Nakita ngayon namin yung erosion sa ilalim ng kalsada, which is the most important part ay wala na, na-erode na dahil yung ginawa nilang protection wall ay ubod ng hina, ubod ng liit,” Marcos told reporters.

(We saw that the soil below the road, which is the most important part, has eroded because the protection wall they constructed is very weak, very small.)

“You can see it sa ilalim ng tunnel, talagang na-erode na. Dahil yung slope protection dito sa baba, sa tabi ng ilog, ay napakababa at napakahina. Kaya't nung pumasok yung tubig, nung bumigat yung tubig, eh tangay kaagad,” he added

(You can see it under the tunnel, that it’s clearly eroded, because the slope protection beside the river is very low and weak. So when the water came in and became heavier, it was swept away immediately.

The said project was a 152-meter, two-lane rock shed along Kennon Road that is meant to serve as a protective structure to safeguard motorists from rock falls and landslides.

Located in Barangay Camp 4, the project’s budget was approved under the 2022 General Appropriations Act (GAA) with the Department of Public Works and Highways - Cordillera Autonomous Region as the implementing office.

The President expressed disappointment, pointing out that the million-funded project “had no effect” in protecting the slope.

Marcos also told reporters the municipality of Tuba lost about 35% of its income due to its damaged infrastructure.

“So, it is not only the physical damage that we can see, but it is also the damage to the economy. It is also the damage to the people's livelihood,” the President said.

Marcos also flagged the installed rock netting, which he alleged had a 75% kickback from the contract.

“Ang presyo ng rock netting is P3,200. Ang chinarge sa gobyerno is more than P12,000. So, times 4. Times 4. So, 75% ng kontrata kinickback. So, that's the situation we are facing. Kaya't malala ito,” the President said.

(Rock netting costs P3,200. But the government was charged P12,000. So, multiplied by 4 which is equivalent to 75% kickback in the contract. So, that's the situation we are facing. It’s severe.)

According to the President, it would cost at least P500 million to repair the damaged rock shed project.

Marcos also inspected the 3,479-square-meter active mesh system along Kennon Road.

The project’s budget worth P114.18 million was approved under the 2018 GAA with DPWH-CAR Region as the implementing office.

Inspection, acceptance of infra projects

The President announced that his administration would reinstate a system where local government units can inspect and approve an infrastructure project, possibly through a measure.

Recalling his time as Ilocos Norte governor, Marcos said the governor assessed if the infrastructure project was done effectively.

“So tinanggal yung SOP (standard operating procedure) na yun. That SOP is that, before you release the project to the local government, kailangan tanggapin ng local government (the local government should accept it),” Marcos said.

“And that's something that we will reinstitute,” he added.

The President earlier revealed that 20% of the total P545 billion budget of flood control projects was awarded to only 15 contractors.

He said his administration is willing to operate under a reenacted budget in 2026, warning that he will veto a proposed budget bill, which will not be in harmony with his administration’s programs and priorities, including the flood control projects. — RF, GMA Integrated News