THE Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (DRRMC) of Mountain Province has shortened the period that the Mt. Data Cliff portion of the Baguio-Bontoc Road will be open to motorists to give way to road repair efforts.
Starting February 20, motorists may only pass through the road from 6:00 A.M. to 8:00 A.M. and from 4:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. from Monday to Friday, cutting down the longer window hours and operating days from Monday to Sunday.
The midday operating hours for the road were removed in order to give project workers more uninterrupted work time to expedite the repair of the damage to the Mt. Data Cliff Road, which remains damaged from last year’s July earthquake that hit Abra province.
Repairs for the road are currently cost at P241 million.
According to Governor Bonifacio Lacwasan, the initial request was to close the road completely that the government and PDRRMC denied to allow farmers in Barangays Monamon and Sadsanan, Bauko to transport their produce to the trading post in La Trinidad, Benguet, as well as to provide for the well-being of Mt. Data National High School students living in the area.
Complete closure of the roads would add at least 30 minutes of travel time along rerouted paths and alternate roads through Barangay Cada in Mankayan.
Long trucks and those carrying heavy loads are still prohibited from taking the road and are advised to take the Ilocos Sur-Mankayan and Benguet roads.
