Photo credit: PCO

BAGUIO CITY – What was meant to protect lives and secure one of Northern Luzon’s most vital roads has now become the latest symbol of waste and corruption.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., joined by Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, Tuba Mayor Clarita Sal-ongan, and officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), personally inspected the controversial ₱264-million rock shed project along Kennon Road in Benguet on Sunday. What they saw confirmed the reports: the structure failed to do its job.

Marcos did not mince words. He described the project as “totally useless,” pointing out that the supposed slope protection collapsed during Typhoon Emong and heavy monsoon rains in late July. Instead of safeguarding motorists, the project’s failure led to more landslides, damage to the shed itself, and the temporary closure of one of the country’s most important thoroughfares.

“Here is the problem here, this ₱260 million project – useless. Parang tinapon mo ‘yung pera sa ilog,” the President said, visibly frustrated.

The rock shed, spanning 152 meters, was awarded to 3K Rock Engineering and declared “completed” in April 2025. Yet, just a few months later, its shortcomings were brutally exposed. Marcos said reconstruction would cost at least double the original amount—about ₱500 million—on top of the economic damage already suffered by communities and businesses, estimated at a 35 percent loss in livelihood.

“This is not only physical damage. This is economic sabotage,” the President declared, vowing to hold accountable those responsible.
Mayor Magalong, known for his own strong stance against corruption, stood with Marcos during the inspection. The President stressed the need to bring back the long-abandoned rule requiring local government acceptance before declaring any infrastructure project complete. “That acceptance is so important,” he said, recalling his experience as Ilocos Norte governor.

But the rock shed was not the only questionable project under scrutiny. Marcos also inspected a rock netting installation in Sitio Camp 5, another multi-million peso contract awarded to the same company. Despite a government ban on rock netting projects due to their notorious history of corruption, it was carried out at a staggering cost of ₱114 million between 2018 and 2019.

The President cited supplier data showing that wire mesh used in the project was priced at ₱12,000 each—almost four times its actual market cost. “Seventy-five percent of the contract was kickback,” he said, underscoring how public funds were siphoned off through inflated prices and substandard work.

As Kennon Road remains vulnerable and lives continue to be at risk, the President repeated his promise: he will not leave office without addressing corruption in public works. “If there’s one thing, I will not leave this office until I fix this,” he said.
For Magalong and the people of Benguet, the inspection brought both vindication and frustration. It highlighted what communities have long known—that substandard projects not only waste taxpayers’ money but also endanger lives and cripple local economies.

Kennon Road, the gateway to the Summer Capital, deserves better. And as Marcos made clear, the fight to ensure that begins now.