TransCo urged to settle rights of way compensations

MANILA, Philippines - Non-governmental organization Pilipinas Para sa Pilipino Inc. (PPP) is calling on the state-run National Transmission Corp. (TransCo) to settle rights of way compensations (ROW) without the need for new funds.

In a statement, PPP said TransCo should stop asking Congress for appropriation to settle right of way issues and from charging transmission fees to the electric consumers in Mindanao.

PPP counsel Paterno Esmaquel, in a letter to TransCo president Rolando Bacani, said consumers in Mindanao should not be charged transmission fees until and after the claims for right of way compensation of 122 affected landowners in Mindanao are settled.

The 122 landowners, represented by lawyer Esmaquel, earlier claimed that TransCo has yet to compensate them for the use of their lands for its transmission towers for more than 20 years. The amount was not specified in the letter since it still had to be determined.

The affected landowners are from Agusan del Norte, North Cotabato, Bukidnon and Davao del Norte.

TransCo, for its part, said it is waiting for supporting documents from PPP to verify claims of landowners that are demanding for rent. During the validation process, TransCo will check the documents’ authenticity and then conduct a ground survey.

“We have an obligation to pay just compensation for right of way claims affected by the transmission lines erected by National Power Corp. (Napocor) and TransCo,” Bacani said in a text message.

Esmaquel also sought clarification on how TransCo used and spent the billions of pesos appropriated to settle right of way claims.

“Our client shall and will oppose the proposed budget of TransCo for 2013 and initiate a congressional investigation on how TransCo had used and spent the reported annual appropriations from Congress to settle the right of way claims of 122 affected landowners and the disposition of the billions of pesos of transmission fees collected from millions of electric consumers,” Esmaquel said.

Esmaquel said the landowners will file separate criminal complaint against Transco officials, making them criminally liable for violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for TransCo’s failure to pay the claims of the affected landowners.

“The transmission towers had caused unrealized revenues to the affected landowners after they failed to fully exercise the attributes of ownership of their lands due to the existence of the transmission towers,” PPP said.