Government told to answer petition vs P65-B LRT-1 project

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) yesterday ordered the government to answer a petition seeking to stop its P65-billion concession agreement for extension of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1 to Cavite.

SC spokesman Theodore Te said the high court ordered the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC) to comment on the petition filed by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and the Confederation for the Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees.

The respondents were given 10 days from notice to comply with the order.

The petition sought for the issuance of a temporary restraining order on the concession agreement between DOTC and LRMC.

The petitioners asked the SC to void the agreement, which covers privatization and maintenance of LRT Line 1 as well as the construction and extension of the existing Line 1 from 20.7 kilometers to 32.4 kilometers by providing trains from Baclaran, traversing the municipalities of Parañaque and Las Piñas, and ending in Bacoor, Cavite.

In a nutshell, the petitioners alleged that the deal is disadvantageous to the government.

They argued that the respondents violated the right of the people to information on matters of public concern under Section 28, Article II of the Constitution since no public consultation was made prior to the signing of the agreement.

The petitioners alleged that the concession agreement is one sided as the concessionaires were “given payout, a risk-free revenue contract,” with the government shouldering all the financial risks while guaranteeing the profits of the consortium.

They questioned the illegal delegation of authority by the LRTA to DOTC and LRMC, saying only the LRTA has the mandate to operate and build the LRT 1.

Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares and secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. led the filing of the petition.

A similar petition was filed by law school dean Salvador Belaro Jr. in February.