Alternate road for Pilando Section in Halsema Highway to open this week

Buguias, Benguet – A temporary alternate road for motorists traversing the Pilando Section on Halsema Highway is now being constructed and is expected to open this week.

This is to address the grievances made by motorists, especially farmers whose vegetable trade has been cut off for three days already, resulting in millions of losses.

In order to open the alternate route, there have been negotiations made by the provincial government of Benguet with the owners of the parcels of land that will be affected by the road opening.

According to the negotiators, they had a positive response to the request and allowed the utilization of their lots temporarily.

To recall, said portion of the road had been totally wiped out on August 23, 2024. The occurrence was anticipated since the Pilando section has long been identified as a sinking road.

Congressman Eric’s Yap take on the problem

In a statement made by Benguet’s solon, Eric Yap, he announced that the Department of Public Works and Highways has a P4 million budget, supposedly for the widening of the road.

With the current situation of the road, the budget will now be utilized for its rehabilitation.

“…it will be complemented by the 150M budget committed to us by the national government through Speaker Martin Romualdez, DBM, NDRRMC, and DPWH. This fund will ensure a more durable road along Halsema Highway na magagamit ulit ng mga motorist,” he added.

As for the permanent solution, Yap said he will have a formal meeting with fellow government officials to discuss the construction of ‘The Pilando Cable-Stayed Bridge’.