Palace hopeful Congress to act on PNR bill

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang is confident that lawmakers will act immediately to pass the bill giving new life to the Philippine National Railways, among other priority measures submitted by the executive department.

Asked if the Palace would convene the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council when Congress resumes session tomorrow, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said there were bills identified in the LEDAC before that had not been passed.

These bills include the Bangsamoro bill, Electric Power Industry Reform Act, Fiscal Incentives Act, Cabotage Act, Freedom of Information, Whistleblower’s Act, Witness Protection Act, Land Use Act, Build-Operate-Transfer Law amendment and regulation of water utilities.

The 50-year-old PNR charter is set to expire in June. It is feared that with the lack of a new charter, services of the PNR may be disrupted.

Coloma said Congress was scheduled to discuss the issue since the corporate life of PNR would end without a new charter.

The PNR has been providing transportation service from Ilocos to the Bicol region.

Coloma said the railway service has also carried out an extensive modernization program in recent months, acquiring new coaches and improving its line, thus increasing its ridership.

Sen. Cynthia Villar, chairperson of the Senate committee on government corporations and public enterprises, said the Senate is rushing the passage of bill so that the PNR charter could be extended before Congress’ sine die adjournment in June.

She directed the Bureau of Treasury to provide the Senate panel as soon as possible with the review of the PNR’s expenses before they would come out with a committee report.

The PNR has an outstanding liability of P22 billion, which is being subsidized by the national treasury.