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Tuesday, October 12, 2004
PB eyes legal action for lower toll rates
By Dante M. Fabian and Chris Navarro
* Legality of Supplemental Tollway Operation Agreement questioned
* UP presentation fails to douse opposition on steep rates
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Pampanga Provincial Board (PB) maintained its opposition to the increase in toll rates at the North Luzon Expressway (Nlex) despite the clarifications by representatives of the University of the Philippines Planades (UP) on the benefits of using the tollway improved by the Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC).
Vice Gov. Joseller "Yeng" Guiao said the UP Planades group presentation in the session Monday failed to douse the opposition by the PB members to the steep toll rates planned to be imposed by the MNTC beginning January next year.
Guiao said the board members have also reached a consensus of bringing the issue to court in order to question the legality of the Supplemental Tollway Operation Agreement (Stoa).
"My biggest apprehension is the inflexibility of the Stoa although the UP Study presented to us as it is, looks convincing enough," Guiao said.
He explained that the court actions will be more effective than the position of the SP on the issue which he said may not be taken into consideration by MNTC because the Stoa is inflexible and powerful.
Guiao said the PB has also decided to file petitions with the Toll Regulatory Board and expressed hopes that the concerned officials will hear the people's appeals.
However, Guiao stressed that the court actions would not necessarily come from the PB and hinted that private or interested parties from the public should initiate the protests in court.
Board Member Nelson Calara said the study prepared by UP Planades did not consider the plight of businessmen, particularly those in the freight and passenger transport business and small producers.
Calara said imposing the MNTC rates on these sectors who use the Nlex daily or even several times daily may cause a chain reaction and raise the prices of construction materials and all other commodities produced in Pampanga and other provinces north of Manila.
First District Board Member Tars Halili and 4th District Board Member Nestor Tolentino said the MNTC should disclose the actual amount invested in the improvement of the Nlex.
Tolentino said Norman Ramos, the UP Planades study team leader, conducted the presentation of the Nlex study before representatives of groups of businessmen, non-government organizations, religious groups, farmers, fishermen, bus operators and marginalized sectors.
However he said the hearing produced negative results and caused disappointment on the audience since their concerns were not appropriately addressed due to the absence of MNTC officials.
Halili and Board Member Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales, Jr. expressed doubts on the actual cost of the improvements, saying there are no major works done by the MNTC on the bridges and viaducts.
Halili and Gonzales said the MNTC should exclude these from the P18 billion its officials disclosed as actual costs incurred on the Nlex improvements and expansion.
Board Member Pogi Caballa, Pampanga Councilors' League (PCL) president, said he is convinced that the costs presented by MNTC are bloated.
In addition, he said MNTC also undertook unnecessary works in the improvements, thus adding to the already overstated amount spent on the Nlex.
(October 12, 2004 issue)
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