BAGUIO CITY — The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill declaring Kennon Road in northern Philippines as a National Heritage Zone.
A statement issued by the Office of Baguio Representative Mark Go on Friday said House Bill (HB) 7502 authored by the city’s lone district Representative includes the appropriation of funds for Kennon Road's restoration, rehabilitation, conservation, and development.
The 33-kilometer road bound by Baguio City and the municipality of Tuba in Benguet province was built in 1903 by different nationalities. It gave way to the development and progress of Baguio and Benguet.
“Kennon Road played a significant role in the progress and growth of Baguio City and the Province of Benguet, making it part of our nation’s historical and cultural heritage. It deserves to be recognized and preserved as a cultural heritage of the Cordillera,” Go said.
Kennon Road is one of the three major access roads leading to Baguio and Benguet.
“Aside from being the shortest way going up to Baguio, it is also considered as the most scenic and the oldest mountain highway. This road was built during the American regime with the hard work of both local and foreign laborers,” Go explained.
Kennon road used to be an all-weather road until the 1990 earthquake. The damage sustained by the road itself and the mountain slopes on its sides remains a problem to this day.
The historic road also has also been subjected to an open-close situation on rainy days, with only minor repairs and maintenance being undertaken due to the unstable slopes.
The Congress-approved measure mandates the Department of Tourism (DOT), the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to coordinate with the local governments of Baguio and Tuba to prepare the necessary plans for Kennon Road's restoration, rehabilitation, conservation, and development.
The bill will now be transmitted to the Senate for its consideration and approval. (PNA)
