Friday, October 26, 2007 DOTC head invited to clarify Kennon Road closure By Jane Cadalig
THE Benguet Provincial Board is set to invite Federico Mandapat, the regional director of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC)-Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), to clarify matters regarding the closure of Kennon Road to public utility vehicles coming from other regions.
Board Member Juan Nazarro Jr. said the legislative body wants to clarify from the director the DOTC's role in regulating roads.
"I believe local government units too should be involved in the regulation of roads, it's not only a job of the DOTC," he said.
Nazarro said discussions must be done between local officials and the DOTC to clarify each agency's role on public roads.
Mandapat earlier issued an order banning inter-regional public utility vehicles of those coming from the lowland provinces, from traversing Kennon Road and directed them instead to take the Palispis-Aspiras Highway (formerly Marcos Highway), to ensure public safety.
The DOTC head said the constant landslides occurring along the Kennon Road pose hazard to the riding public, thus the need to relocate PUVs from passing this road.
Ensuring commuter's safety, according to Mandapat, is one of the mandates of the DOTC.
Kennon Road is ordered closed by the Department of Public Works and Highways to all forms of vehicles during typhoons and heavy downpour due to landslides.
Mandapat explained that his order does not prejudice residents living along the road as he said units from Tuba, Benguet are not covered by the ban.
