MANILA — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. denounced as “useless” the P264 million rock shed project along Kennon Road in Tuba, Benguet, after confirming that the structure failed to prevent soil collapse and rock fall during Typhoon “Emong” and monsoon rains in July.

“Here is the problem here, this 260 million project – useless. Parang tinapon mo ‘yung pera sa ilog. Useless,” Marcos said during his inspection of the project. He added, “The 260 million that the government spent for this project had no effect whatsoever as to protect the slope. Parang walang ginawa… Kaya ang balor ng kanilang trabaho is zero, complete zero.”

Local government units reported that the slope protection component of the project disintegrated during the July 25 and 26 soil collapse and rock fall, causing damage to the structure and the closure of a portion of Kennon Road, a key thoroughfare.

The 152-meter, two-lane rock shed was awarded to 3K Rock Engineering under the 2022 infrastructure program. It began construction on January 10, 2023 and was listed as completed on April 13, 2025.

Marcos said reconstructing the damaged structure would cost at least P500 million, or nearly double the original amount, and cited local estimates that economic losses from the road closure reached 35 percent of livelihoods in the area.

“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,” he said. “Naghahanapbuhay lang naman itong mga taong ito, tinanggal sa kanila 35 percent ng kanilang hanapbuhay para ibulsa ang pera ng gobyerno.”

The President reiterated his order to charge those responsible with economic sabotage. He was joined during the inspection by Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, Tuba Mayor Clarita Sal-ongan, and officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

The Kennon Road inspection is the latest in Marcos’ probe of anomalous flood control projects under the “Sumbong sa Pangulo” initiative launched on August 11.