Lawmakers want PNCC franchise revoked

Eight congressmen from Northern Luzon and Southern Tagalog have filed a resolution seeking the cancellation of the franchise of the Philippine National Construction Co. (PNCC) to operate the North and South Luzon expressways for alleged "unsatisfactory performance and non-compliance of obligations."

In Resolution 1055, the congressmen said PNCC had failed to regularly pay its annual concession fees to the government, piling up arrears of about P2 billion.

The state-owned firm has also failed to carry out its franchise obligation to extend the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) from Sta. Ines in Mabalacat, Pampanga, to Carmen in Rosales, Pangasinan; and the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) from Calamba City in Laguna to Lucena City in Quezon.

They likewise accused PNCC of entering into joint venture agreements with other companies through a 25-year supplemental toll operation agreement (STOA), which they said would effectively extend the PNCC franchise after its expiration on April 30, 2007.

They said one of these agreements is with the Manila North Tollways Corp. for the rehabilitation, improvement and financing of the existing NLEX.

The authors of the resolution said such agreements were a "usurpation of the powers of Congress, which, if not properly addressed, will result in a mockery of the separation of powers of Congress and of the Executive branch of the government, and of the exclusive power vested to Congress by the Constitution on the grant of franchise for public utilities of national significance and proportion."

Those who signed the resolution were Arthur Celeste, Amado Espino, Generoso Tulagan, Mark Cojuangco, and Conrado Estrella III, all of Pangasinan; Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado of Bulacan, Rodolfo Albano III of Isabela; and Hermilando Mandanas of Batangas. — Jess Diaz