By Dexter A. See
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The Cordillera office of the Department of Transportation and Communications here stood firm on its order to close Kennon Road to inter-regional vehicular traffic despite tremendous pressure by politicians in this province.
Lawyer Federico Mandapat Jr., DoTC regional director, said his office is concerned about the safety of the commuting public.
He said Kennon Road, the shortest route from Baguio City to the lowland and vice versa, has been declared geologically hazardous by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau.
Contrary to the claim of some politicians that the ban on inter-regional traffic on the road resulted to lack of transportation for communities alongside the highway, heads of associations of jeepneys traversing Kennon Road assured commuters they are guaranteeing the availability of vehicles to ferry residents and students to and from Baguio, especially during peak hours.
Village officials, leaders of transport group and residents of communities along Kennon Road appeared before the provincial board recently to solve the problem, purportedly caused by Mandapat’s order which banned inter-regional vehicles from using Kennon, a national road.
Earlier, residents said the order resulted in serious inconvenience because the vehicles covered by the ban are not allowed to load and unload on Kennon Road.
The supposed lack of vehicles to ferry passengers from Camp 1 and Camp 6 was blamed on Mandapat’s memorandum rerouting passenger vans from la Union and other lowland areas to Marcos Highway.
However, Mandapat said his order, issued to ensure safety of the commuting public due to Kennon’s susceptibility to landslides, is not the major cause of the people’s inconvenience.
Jeepney drivers had said residents refuse to board their vehicles because they prefer to ride in vans.
They said there are enough jeeps to cater to needs of the riding public on Kennon Road.
It was learned there are 57 jeepneys with valid certificates of public convenience to pass through Kennon Road, but only 37 are operating.
Mandapat said the 20 jeepneys that are not operating should be reactivated to solve the transporation problem of residents of villages along Kennon Road.
The DOTC official warned if the jeepneys do not abide by their agreement with provincial officials, he would be forced to cancel their franchises and approve the pending applications of those who are interested to operate along the route.
The national government had earlier recommended the total closure of Kennon Road to traffic after it was heavily devastated by the killer earthquake on July 16, 1990.
Baguio and Benguet officials however appealed that it be opened even for light vehicles so communities alongside the road would not be isolated.
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