President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. lashed out at the Department of Public Works and Highways–Cordillera (DPWH-CAR) after inspecting a collapsed P260-million rock shed project along Kennon Road in Tuba, Benguet, calling it “useless” and “economic sabotage.”

“Wala silang tinayo, wala silang nilagay na wall, wala silang nilagay na riprap, wala silang nilagay na slope protection. Kaya ang valor ng kanilang trabaho is zero, complete zero,” Marcos said.

“This is P260 million project. Useless. Parang tinapon mo yung pera sa ilog niyo. Useless. To correct this will cost double that. That's my top of the head estimate. P500 million ito para ayusin. How can you tell me that it's not economic sabotage?” he added.

The structure gave way after heavy rains in July 2025, forcing the closure of Kennon Road while clearing operations were conducted. Residents and local officials expressed dismay, saying they were not consulted before or after the project’s completion.

“We are concerned sana during the kwan para makita namin, kung sinabi ni president na this is standard, ang trabaho nila is standard, hindi sub-standard,” Tuba Mayor Clarita Sal-ongan said.

Marcos also visited a rock netting project in Camp 3, which he claimed was overpriced.

“Because napaka-notorious ng rock netting to sa korapsyon. Pinagbawal na ang rock netting pero ginawa nang ginawa pa rin. Kilala ko ang supplier ng rock netting. Ang presyo ng rock netting is ₱3,200. Ang chinarge sa gobyerno is more than ₱12,000. So, times 4. So, 75 percent ng kontrata kinickback,” he said.

The collapse has hit local businesses hard.

“Yung mga ano namin dito yung mga negosyante, mas lalo yung mga restaurant, medyo kumonti na yung customer nila kasi hindi makapasok yung mga sasakyan dito,” John Dogao, barangay chairperson of Camp 4, Tuba, said.

DPWH-CAR, however, cited natural factors as the cause.

“As you can see along Kennon very fractured talaga yung slopes natin and aside from that, ang weather conditions natin sa Cordillera, tag-init, tag-ulan,” Arnold Dacwag, chief of DPWH-CAR’s Planning and Design Division, said.

The agency said it plans to extend the existing rock shed to reinforce the area. Kennon Road has since been reopened but only to residents of Baguio City and nearby Benguet towns.