President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Sunday lambasted the PhP264 million rock shed project along Kennon Road in Tuba, Benguet, calling it “useless” after it failed to protect motorists during recent landslides.
Inspecting the site, Marcos confirmed reports from local government units (LGUs) that the slope protection feature collapsed during Typhoon Emong and heavy monsoon rains on July 25 and 26, causing soil erosion and rock falls. The incident damaged the structure and forced the closure of a portion of Kennon Road, a vital thoroughfare in the region.
“This PhP260 million project—useless. Parang tinapon lang sa ilog ang pera. Walang silbi,” the President said in frustration. He added that the structure showed clear signs of poor workmanship: “The slope protection already gave way. The government spent 260 million for nothing… the value of this project is zero.”
The 152-meter, two-lane rock shed was designed to shield motorists from landslides and rock falls. It was awarded to contractor 3K Rock Engineering with a contract cost of PhP264.19 million. Funded under the 2022 infrastructure program, construction began on January 10, 2023 and was declared completed on April 13, 2025.
Marcos said rebuilding the project would now cost the government at least PhP500 million—twice the original price. He ordered charges of economic sabotage against those responsible, stressing the project’s impact on businesses and livelihoods. LGUs estimated that the road’s closure caused economic losses of up to 35 percent.
“It is not just the physical damage but also the damage to the economy and the people’s livelihood,” the President said. “These people are only trying to earn a living, and 35 percent of their income was taken away so someone could pocket government funds.”
The Kennon Road rock shed is the latest questionable infrastructure project inspected by the President since the launch of the Sumbong sa Pangulo website on August 11, aimed at exposing corruption in flood control projects.
Marcos was joined during the inspection by Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, Tuba Mayor Clarita Sal-ongan, and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials.
With reports from the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)
