Transpo Flashcards
Munn v. Illinois
Property becomes clothed with a public interest when used in a manner to make it of public consequence, and affect the community at large. He must submit to be controlled by the public for the common good, to the extent of the interest he has thus created.
Public service (CA 146)
Every person that now or hereafter may own, operate, manage, or control in the Philippines, for hire or compensation, with general or limited clientele, whether permanent, occasional or accidental, and done for general business purposes, any common carrier, railroad, street railway, traction railway, sub-way motor vehicle, either for freight or passenger, or both with or without fixed route and whether may be its classification, freight or carrier service of any class, express service, steamboat or steamship line, pontines, ferries, and water craft, engaged in the transportation of passengers or freight or both, shipyard, marine railways, marine repair shop, [warehouse] wharf or dock, ice plant, ice-refrigeration plant, canal, irrigation system, gas, electric light, heat and power water supply and power, petroleum, sewerage system, wire or wireless communications system, wire or wireless broadcasting stations and other similar public services
Luzon Stevedoring v. PSC
Still a public service if conducted for hire or compensation even if the operator deals only with a portion of the public or limited clientele.
Rationale for regulation
Social justice; meant to balance private and public interests; common good
How to determine just and reasonable rates (Republic v. Meralco)
Consider:
1) Rate of return;
2) Rate base; and
3) The return itself or the computed revenue to be earned by the public utility based on the rate of return and rate base.
Basis for the power to regulate rates (Republic v. Meralco)
Police power & statutes prescribing rules for the control and regulation of public utilities are a valid exercise thereof.
Balancing of interests (Republic v. Meralco)
In regulating rates charged by public utilities, the State protects the public against arbitrary and excessive rates while maintaining the efficiency and quality of services rendered. Thus, the fixing of just and reasonable rates involves a balancing of the investor and the consumer interests.
Fair return = Reasonable to the public
Public utility (Sec. 13(d), CA 146 amended by RA 11659)
A public service that operates, manages or controls for public use any of the ff:
1) Distribution of Electricity
2) Transmission of Electricity
3) Petrol and Petrol Products Pipeline Transmission Systems
4) Water Pipeline Distribution Systems and Wastewater Pipeline Systems, inc sewerage pipeline systems
5) Seaports
6) PUVs
Public use (Iloilo Ice Company)
Not confined to privileged individuals; open to the indefinite public
Test: Can the public enjoy it by right or only by permission?
Elements of a public service
1) Person owns, operates, manages, or controls in the PH public services that may include distribution of goods or rendering of services to the public
2) Ownership must be for hire/compensation
3) Ownership must be for general business purposes
4) With general/limited clientele
5) May be permanent, occasional or accidental
When are common carriers considered public service?
1) If they transport freight or passenger/both
2) If their service is with/out fixed route
3) If their classification may be freight/carrier service of any class, express service, steamboat, or steamship line, pontines, ferries and water craft
Why is it justified to regulate public utilities?
Because whenever private property is used for a public purpose and is affected with public interest, it ceases to be juris private only and becomes subject to regulation.
Albano v. Reyes
Franchises issued by Congress are not required before each and every public utility may operate. Thus, the law has granted certain administrative agencies the power to grant licenses for or to authorize the operation of certain public utilities.
Potestas delegata non delegari potest.
What has been delegated cannot be further delegated
LTFRB delegated power (EO 202)
“to determine, prescribe, approve and periodically review and adjust, reasonable fares, rates and other related charges, relative to the operation of public land transportation services provided by motorized vehicles.”
NTC’s power (EO 436)
Regulation and supervision of the cable television industry in the Philippines
Batangas CATV v. CA
Pursuant to E.O. 436, “only persons, associations, partnerships, corporations or cooperatives granted a Provisional Authority or Certificate of Authority by the NTC may install, operate and maintain a cable television system or render cable television service within a service area.” It is clear that in the absence of constitutional or legislative authorization, municipalities have no power to grant franchises. But local governments may prescribe regulations as may be needed for the health, morals, peace, education, good order, safety or general welfare of their constituents.
Utak-1 v. COMELEC
The COMELEC’s Resolution prohibiting the display of election materials in PUVs and transport terminals is NOT within the constitutionally delegated power of the COMELEC under Section 4, Article IX-C, Const.
Sec. 4, Art. IX-C
The Commission may, during the election period, supervise or regulate the enjoyment or utilization of all franchises or permits for the operation of transportation and other public utilities
What do you call public services that are not public utilities?
Businesses affected with public interest (RA 11659)
Enterprises not considered “public service” under CA 146 (Sec. 14, CA 146)
1) Warehouses
2) Animal-drawn vehicles, or oar/sale-moved bancas, tugboats and lighter
3) Airships within the PH (except for the matter of rate-fixing)
4) Radio companies “…”
5) Public services owned/operated by any Gov’t/GOCC “…”
“Affected with public interest”
Can mean no more than that an industry, for adequate reason, is subject to control for the public good.
Public utility (Nebbia v. NY)
A business so affected is one in which property is devoted to an enterprise of a sort which the public itself might appropriately undertake, or one whose owner relies on a public grant or franchise for the right to conduct the business, or in which he is bound to serve all who apply
Tatad v. Garcia
The facilities used to operate a public utility are not a public utility per se