Another economic sabotage: Marcos slams ‘useless’ Kennon Road rock shed project

Metro Manila, Philippines - President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called out another possible case of “economic sabotage” after inspecting a ₱273.93-million Kennon Road rock shed project in Benguet that was “useless” against rain-induced landslides.

Marcos aired out his frustration on anomalous flood-control projects on Sunday, Aug. 24, when he inspected the rock shed project.

The president said the project’s supposed slope protection has disintegrated and did not prevent the soil collapse and rock fall triggered by Typhoon “Emong” and monsoon rains in July.

He said the soil collapse and rock fall damaged the rock shed structure and resulted in the closure of a portion of Kennon Road, a major thoroughfare.

“Kung wala silang itinayo, wala silang inilagay na wall, wala silang inilagay na riprap, wala silang inilagay na slope protection, ganoon din ang nangyari,” Marcos told reporters.

“Kaya ang balor ng kanilang trabaho is zero, complete zero,” he said.

[Translation: If they did not put up the structure, the wall, the riprap, the slope protection, the same thing would still happen. That’s why the value of their work is zero, complete zero.]

Citing the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Malacañang said the funding of the rock shed project was sourced from the FY 2022 Infrastructure program. The project started on Jan. 10, 2023 and was completed on April 13, 2025.

Marcos said it may take the government at least P500 million to “correct” the project.

During his remarks before the media, the president did not say if the contractor will be blacklisted, but he mentioned that it is a case of “economic sabotage”.

“The President reiterated his order to charge those involved in the anomalous project with economic sabotage, citing not only the road closure but the economic loss to businesses and people’s livelihoods by as much as 35 percent, based on LGUs’ (local government units) estimate,” Malacañang said in a news release.

On Aug. 20, Marcos ordered the blacklisting of a contractor and the filing of charges against government officials linked to a ₱55-million flood control “ghost project” in Baliwag, Bulacan.