Kennon road controversy:DOTC director unfazed by relief bid of 2 Palace execs

By Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY – The regional director of the Department of Transportation and Communication in the Cordillera belittled a move of two Malacañang officials to relieve him from his post due to the controversy over the control of vehicular traffic on Kennon Road.

Earlier, lawyer Federico Mandapat Jr., Cordillera DOTC director, was asked to reconsider his order banning inter-regional vehicular traffic on Kennon Road, the shortest route to and from this mountain resort city to the lowlands.

Mandapat stood firm on his decision to ban garage vans from passing through
Kennon Road and rerouting these vehicles to Marcos Highway, saying it is for the safety of the motorists and the public.

He said he is willing to face the consequences of his actions even if the issue is brought to the attention of President Arroyo and DOTC officials, provided "he will be given the opportunity to fully explain the matter to them."

Mandapat said he has the documents to support the controversial order, including the declaration of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau that at least 85 percent of Kennon Road is susceptible to landslides due to the highly fractured rock formations and loose soil cover.

Earlier, Presidential Assistant for the Cordillera Affairs Thomas Killip and Secretary Ariel Lim of the Public Transport Affairs Office recommended to the President the relief of Mandapat from his post until the controversy over the closure of Kennon Road to intra-regional traffic is resolved.

The recommendation was made by the two Malacanang officials after they conducted a dialogue which came up with a "win-win solutions" to the plight of garage vans.
The solution called for Mandapat to reconsider his order.

But Mandapat said when he re-routed the garage vans to Marcos Highway, he was simply implementing an administrative order of President Arroyo giving full authority to DOTC to ensure road safety.

He said most of the garage vans traversing Kennon Road are out of line because their franchises were secured in Region I.