Biazon raps may just fall on GMA ally’s lap

DUCUT NOT AN ALLY: “2 P-Noy allies on pork list” bannered a newspaper yesterday in an apparent attempt to show that President Noynoy Aquino was non-partisan in filing criminal complaints against those involved in the pocketing of congressional pork barrel.

The paper’s report mentioned as Aquino allies Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon and Zenaida Cruz Ducut, the chair of the Energy Regulatory Commission. Biazon is a former congressman representing Muntinlupa City from 2001 to 2010.

But Ducut has not been known to be an Aquino ally. Formerly representative of the second district of Pampanga, in 2008 she was appointed ERC chair for a fixed term by her cabalen then President Gloria Arroyo. In fact, her identification with her Lubao townmate may have worsened her predicament.

*      *      *

LONG WAY TO GO: Biazon and Ducut were with 32 others in the second batch of alleged pork barrel scammers who were charged yesterday with malversation, direct bribery, graft and corrupt practices before the Office of the Ombudsman.

Biazon allegedly used a bogus non-government organization as a conduit in implementing livelihood projects chargeable to his pork barrel worth P2.7 million in 2007. A witness claimed that Biazon, through Ducut, collected commissions totaling P1.95 million.

The alleged kickback is petty cash compared to the P50-million threshold for plunder, a non-bailable crime, making the charges against Biazon look small-time. There is also the possibility that Ducut may just be made to absorb the crime as Biazon’s alleged agent or collector.

Anyway, the filing of the complaint for preliminary investigation is still a light year away from conviction or acquittal, which would come well beyond the term of President Aquino that ends in 2016.

*      *      *

SEAMLESS TOLLWAY: If the stars will be in their right places this month, motorists using the North Luzon Expressway and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway will start enjoying before yearend a seamless service and toll system with the expressways under one management.

Manila North Tollways Corp., a member of the Metro Pacific group of companies controlled by investors identified with Manny V. Pangilinan, is optimistic it would get this month government’s approval on its P20-billion concession offer to also operate the 94-kilometer SCTEx.

Rodrigo F. Franco, MNTC president and chief executive officer, reported this in last Friday’s forum of the Capampangan in Media Inc. (CAMI) at its Bale Balita (House of News) at the Clark Freeport in partnership with the Clark Development Corp. and the Social Security System.

He said the takeover of SCTEx operations could further strengthen MNTC’s financial muscle that could allow it to pursue expansion and diversification plans in tollways and transportation operations.

*      *      *

OPTIMISTIC OUTLOOK: Franco said that as in 2012, MNTC expects to post an increase in its net profit at P2 billion on the back of P7 billion in gross revenues from previous levels of P1.5 billion in net and P6 billion gross receipts. 

He said, however, that MNTC expects a slight deceleration in earnings next year in consonance with the slower global economic activity expected in 2014 marked by credit tightening measures initiated by the US as indicated by the rising interest rates.

“In spite of this trend, our operations would still be on the plus side, both in gross and net earnings, given the positive economic prospects prevailing in the country,” Franco said.

*      *      *

PALACE NOD AWAITED: Earlier, MNTC had won in a bidding to operate the SCTEx built by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority, paving the way for the signing of a concession agreement in November 2010.

But presidential approval of the concession agreement was held back because of concerns on its revenue-sharing terms, prompting a rewriting of the 2010 pact that the two parties had signed.

“These concerns have been ironed out and we’re now hopeful of getting the nod of the Office of the President, which should allow MNTC to take full operational control of the four-lane expressway,” Franco said.

*      *      *

FRESH CAPITAL: Some P600 million has been earmarked by MNTC to integrate SCTEx’s operations with NLEx and the proposed elevated tollways leading to the South Luzon Expressway (SLEx).

The firm has also committed to pump a total of P20 billion in fresh capital until 2043 for road improvements, lighting, signages and other facilities to improve the safety of the expressways under its control and management. Franco said these activities have been factored in under MNTC’s original plan.

In the business and operating agreement with BCDA, MNTC committed to fully shoulder until 2019 the P1.2-billion annual repayment of the loan that BCDA secured from the Japan International Cooperation Agency to build the expressway linking Subic through Clark to Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac.

*    *    *

HARBOR LINK: Work is also ongoing on extending the NLEx network to the East through the completed Mindanao Avenue link in Quezon City and to the Western route or Harbor link that passes through MacArthur Highway to the Philippine National Railways tracks up to C-3, which shall be the take-off point for the elevated NLEx-SLEx connector road.

Franco said MNTC completed the Mindanao Avenue link in 2010 at a cost of P2.1 billion, generating some 5,000 jobs.

He added that the firm is set to borrow initially some P7 billion through bond flotation to finance the construction of the NLEx-Harbor Link. Another P10-billion bond float is being readied for this project.

*      *      *

RESEARCH: Access past POSTSCRIPTs at www.manilamail.com. Follow us via Twitter.com/@FDPascual. Send feedback to [email protected]