BAGUIO CITY — Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon said repairs on Kennon Road, including the completion of a rock shed and tunnel damaged by recent tropical cyclones, are expected to finish within the year.

Inspecting the infrastructure in Benguet province, Dizon said road works and repairs will begin this week, with a PHP270 million budget allocated for the remaining 100-meter section of the rock shed.

“Kaya naman matapos this year (It can be completed this year),” he told reporters.

“Nakita naman natin naman natin na effective ang rock shed. Ang problem lang nabitin dito, ito ang tinamaan (We saw that rock shed is effective, but the problem is that it was not finished, it was hit [by typhoons last year]),” he added.

The rock shed protects Kennon Road, a 33.5-kilometer zigzag route connecting Rosario, La Union to Baguio City, from landslides.

“Kailangan siguraduhin natin magsisimula sa foundation, ‘yung magsusuporta sa kalye, at matibay (We need to ensure that it has a solid foundation that will support the road and keep it strong),” Dizon said.

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

In a briefing Saturday, Dizon said Japanese consultants will be engaged to assist with slope protection for road construction in Benguet and the wider Cordillera region.

“If we do this, we will not only address soil erosion and landslides that are frequent in your region, but all over the country, where roads are built on mountain slopes,” he said.