Bills to permanently terminate Toll Fees along Kennon and Halsema submitted

Cordillera - Two bills proposing the permanent termination of toll fees along Halsema Highway and Kennon Road was submitted by Benguet Congressman Eric Go Yap and Mt. Province Congressman Max Dalog. 

House Bill No. 1047 and 1048 authored by the two congressmen aim to stop the collection of toll fees from road users in Camp 1, Camp 6 along Kennon Road and Acop, Tublay, Benguet along the Halsema Highway.

Terminating the toll fees would benefit the farmers, truckers, local travelers, tourists because they could save money from additional expenses. 

It help lessen the burden being imposed by the national government on the collection of tool fees to farmers and road users. 

The proposed bills were submitted for study a recommendation to the appropriate committee, and once approved by the House of Representative it will be forwarded to the senate and then to the Office of the President for his signature to become a law.

If the president signed it, it will be published in the national gazette or in a newspaper and will take effect as a law 15 days after.

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WATCH: Drone Footage of Halsema Highway by SEFTV

Cordillera - With an altitude of around 2,255 meters above seal level, the Halsema Highway also known as mountain trail is the highest altitude highway in the Philippines just next to the Kiangan-Tinoc-Bugias Road in Tinoc, Ifugao. 

Don't you know that Halsema Highway was name after an American engineer who was known for building Baguio's most important public structures? 

His name was Eusebius Julius Halsema who served as Baguio's mayor during the year 1920 to 1937. It was during his term that Halsema Highway was constructed.

The highway has served motorists and tourists from the lowlands to have access to the northern part of Cordillera and the Ilocos Region. 

It was also the main road use by vegetables farmers to transport their produce to the trading post in La Trinidad.

The 150-kilometer or 93.2 miles highway covers 95 kilometers of Benguet province and traverses eight of its municipalities (La Trinidad, Tublay, Atok, Bokod, Kabayan, Bugias, Bakun, and Mankayan. 

In recent years, Halsema was considered one of the most dangerous highways in the world due to sharp road curves, landslides, zero visibility during rainy season due to fog. 

But the road has now improved tremendously, as the road has been regularly repaired and cemented concrete railings have been installed and the landslide prone area has been layered with stone walls. 

Much works has been done to improve the conditions of the Halsema Highway and it now becomes one of the top tourists spot to visit in Cordillera. 

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