P116 million set for rehab of Halsema

By Dexter A. See

TUBLAY, Benguet – Responding to clamor of agriculture stakeholders, motorists and affected residents, P116 million was made available by the national government to fund the restoration of two major road cuts along the Baguio-Bontoc-Banaue Road, popularly known as Halsema Highway, which was inflicted by the onslaught of typhoon “Pepeng” last year with the onset of the rainy season.

Engineer Enrico Guilas, director of the Department of Public Works and Highways in the Cordillera, said the funds will be specifically utilized to restore a 300-meter road cut at km 18, Tublay, Benguet and a much smaller road cut at km 31 in Atok, Benguet, major link from Baguio City to the interior parts of the region.

According to Guilas, P77 million will be used to restore the big road cut at km 18 while P39 million was allotted to restore the smaller road cut at km 31 to prevent motorists from being exposed to eminent danger when passing through the road cuts, especially during the occurrence of heavy rains.

The DPWH opened a temporary route by cutting through a portion of the mountain but this still poses serious threat to the safety of motorists because of fractured rock and soil formation.