DOTC TO BLOCK TOLLWAY RATE HIKE
MANILA, July 7, 2004 (STAR) By Christina Mendez - Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza may stop the collection of increased toll in the North and South Luzon expressways.
Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) sources said Mendoza may suspend collection of the new rates while the issues have not yet been resolved.
Toll at the North Luzon expressway is now 52 centavos per kilometer, from 33 centavos, for Class 1 vehicles (private cars and jeepneys); P1.04 per km from 66 centavos for Class 2 (vans and buses); and P1.55 per km from 99 centavos for Class 3 (heavy vehicles).
At the South Luzon expressway, the new rate is now 72 centavos per kilometer, from 33 centavos per kilometer for Class 1; P1.44 from 66 centavos per km for Class 2; and P2.16, from 99 centavos per km for Class 3.
Meanwhile, Malacañang ordered the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) yesterday to conduct a public hearing on the controversial toll hike, inviting all concerned sector to take part.
President Arroyo will, however, allow the TRB to come up with a solution before she steps into the picture, her spokesman said.
"The President is leaving that for the meantime to the TRB to resolve," Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said. "They will continue to hear the various petitions as well as the reactions from the communities,"
In an interview, Mendoza said his office will investigate how the Philippine National Construction Corp. (PNCC) was able to increase the rates without approval from the TRB and the Office of the President.
"Nagkaroon ng disagreement dito tungkol sa basis ng increase," he said.
"The basis of the increase was based on the appraisal of their assets and expenditures. The recommendation of the toll rate hike is lower than what PNCC wants.
"We will reconcile these (issues) and we will come up with a solution within today."
Mendoza said a DOTC review showed that the PNCC had erred in implementing the new rates because it went beyond the 42 centavos per kilometer approved by the TRB last June 18.
"The rates are higher than the TRB reviewed and approved rates of 42 centavos both at the NLE and the SLE," he said.
He will be coordinating with the Philippine National Police to avert any "misunderstanding between motorists and toll collectors," Mendoza added.
Mendoza is set to meet with representatives of the TRB and the PNCC to "address" the concern of motorists, who had complained about increased toll at the North and South Luzon expressways.
On the other hand, Felipe Aguinaldo, TRB acting executive director, said they will order PNCC to explain why it implemented increased rates different from those granted by the TRB late last year.
"TRB gave its approval for PNCC to increase toll fees but on different rates, not those that it implemented," he said.
Aguinaldo asked public transport operators to file with the TRB a petition opposing the higher rates.
"In the meantime, we are asking the general public to keep their tickets so they could claim refunds from PNCC in case there would be any," he said.
Aguinaldo said the TRB will hold a public hearing once the petition is filed.
However, Pastor Ramos, PNCC chairman, said the firm did not violate any regulations when it implemented toll hike in the two expressways.
"Section 9 of [Presidential Decree] 1894 provides PNCC the right and authority to increase its toll fees," he said.
There is an "urgent need" for the toll hike as the 25-year-old expressways must be reconstructed, he added.
In response, DOTC officials debunked the assertion of Ramos that the firm has the "right and authority" to adjust toll at the two expressways as long as it complies with the requirements of its charter, PD 1894.
A top DOTC official, who asked for anonymity, said the DOTC may ask the PNCC to implement the TRB-approved 42 centavos/kilometer rate in the two major thoroughfares, not 52 centavos in the North Luzon expressway and 72 centavos in the South Luzon expressway.
"The PNCC failed to consider the regulatory body needs to approve the appraisal under the return on rate base formula requirements, pursuant to the Commission on Audit State Audit Manual," the official said.
"The TRB did not approve the toll adjustment submitted by the PNCC on September 30 last year."
Under the TRB charter, it has, along with the DOTC the responsibility to uphold public interest but closely supervising and regulating the collection of toll and the operation of toll facilities by the private sector, sources added. — with reports from Rainier Allan Ronda, Marichu Villanueva
Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi
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