HOUSE Deputy Speaker Eric Singson, leader of the Northern (Luzon) Alliance, said yesterday the Philippine National Construction Company (PNCC), in the presence of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, has committed to immediately start work on the extension of the North Expressway up to Rosario, La Union, and to be finished within 10 years.

Singson also said the PNCC is also committed to consider a reduction in toll fees to heighten the competitiveness of farmers bringing their produce to markets in Metro Manila and other urban centers.

“We are deeply gratified by the President’s support and Congress’ responsiveness to the problems of our farmers in transporting their agricultural produce to markets in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces in the wake of increasing toll fees,” Singson said as he thanked his colleagues, including Rep. Salacnib Baterina and other Luzon lawmakers, for their endorsement of the highway extension.

The House of Representatives last Sept. 20 approved on final reading House Bill 5749 granting extension to the franchise of the PNCC to another 25 years.

Singson said the toll fees being charged by the private operator of expressways have increased almost one thousand (1,000 percent) from their original charges.

Singson, however, presented a motion to reconsider the third-reading approval by the House in view of their concerns affecting their constituents in central and northern Luzon. The House leadership obliged to pave the way for a meeting in Malacañang with President Arroyo and officials of the PNCC to thresh out their concerns.

“We, lawmakers from northern and central Luzon, went to see the President in the presence of PNCC officials. The authors, led by chairman Zubiri, agreed to include a provision that the PNCC commits, under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) law, to extend the North Expressway all the way to Rosario, La Union, within the next 10 years,” Singson said.

The Philippine BOT law, a brainchild of Speaker Jose de Venecia and considered a model BOT law in the world, effectively attracted billions of dollars in foreign investments and allowed the surge of infrastructure projects in the country without using public funds.

The principal authors of the bill are led by House committee on legislative franchises chairman Juan Miguel Zubiri, Majority Leader Prospero Nograles and Reps. Justin Chipeco and Benjamin Agarao Jr.

Following the positive commitment from the PNCC in the presence of the President, Singson subsequently withdrew his motion to reconsider the final reading passage of the extension bill.

“The author (Zubiri) accepted our proposal to extend the NLEX up to Rosario, La Union, within 10 years from the start of the extension period of the franchise of PNCC,” Singson said.

However, Singson, added the third-reading approval will not prejudice continuing discussions or other agreements with the regulatory board and the PNCC which would heighten economic benefits for the people.

Another salient point is a congressional review of the toll rates every two years. “So, we would like the public, especially Congress, to be involved in public hearings to be done whenever the rate is to be reviewed.”

“Our number one concern is the very high toll rates which increased by about 1,000 percent from the previous rate. If ever farmers are allowed to use the NLEX, the exorbitant toll fees makes the transport of vegetables and other farm products very expensive, resulting in higher prices for consumers,” Singson said.

The original franchise of the PNCC, formerly known as the Construction and Development Corporation of the Philippines (CDCP), was granted under Presidential Decree No. 1113, as amended by PD 1894, for a period of 25 years for the North Luzon Expressway and the South Luzon Expressway, including the Metro Manila Expressway and all extension linkages, stretches and diversions.

Under the franchise extension, which would become effective by next year, the PNCC shall undertake the expansion and development of existing expressways pursuant to PD 1894, which is the extension of the NLEX to Carmen, Rosales, Pangasinan, and further north to Rosario, La Union, and the South Luzon Expressway to Lucena, Quezon.

“Failure by the PNCC to build the extension highway up to Rosario, La Union, within the 10-year time frame would mean cancellation of its franchise, ” Singson concluded.
People's Tonight
10/4/2006 13:41 PM