Saturday, October 21, 2017

Alvarez files bill creating national railway regulator

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez has filed a bill that will consolidate the regulation of the country’s train systems into a proposed Philippine National Railway Authority and set up government corporations in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao to operate railways.

The bill will also require all railway operators to secure a legislative franchise from Congress before constructing and operating a system.

This was one of the proposals Alvarez earlier laid out as part of the “great reorganization of the government bureaucracy” that the House of Representatives plans to prioritize in the second year of the 17th Congress.

House Bill No. 6593 seeks to mandate the PNRA to “regulate all aspects of the Railway Corporations” that are presently operating and may be established in the future.

The current rail regulators — the Philippine National Railways (PNR), the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA), the Panay Railways, Inc., and the North Luzon Railway Corp. (Northrail) — would be abolished and absorbed into the PNRA under the bill.

The PNRA’s functions will include entering into contracts, acquiring real properties, fixing the schedule frequency and route of railway services, privatizing any part of the system with prior approval by Congress, formulating a master plan for a national system with environmental standards, and ordering the cessation of any related activity.

Construction of railway tracks and changes in structures and methodology will not be allowed “without the prior approval of the Authority.”

Its five-man board of directors will be headed by the Transportation secretary and composed of three general managers of the railway corporations and one private sector appointee.

The board, which will meet at least once a month, will be tasked with creating railway standards and drawing up rules on tariffs and fees, as well as security and safety.

The PNRA’s operations, meanwhile, will be run by an administrator, who should have recognized executive ability and competence in the field of transportation.

Three railway operators

The bill would also create three government corporations – the Luzon Railway Corp. (LRC), the Visayas Railway Corp. (VRC), and the Mindanao Railway Corp. (MRC) – to operate the systems in their respective island groups.

These companies would respectively be based in Clark in Pampanga province, somewhere in Panay island, and in Tagum City in Davao del Norte province. The government corporations would have a 50-year life span that could be renewed for another 50 years upon the president’s approval.

The corporations will have the power to exercise the right of eminent domain, borrow money and transact business, and construct public utilities and infrastructure.

Each corporation will have an authorized capital stock of P30 billion, with P6 billion being initially paid-up and the balance paid through continuing appropriations of at least P2 billion annually.

Each corporation will be headed by a seven-member board of directors chaired by the Transportation undersecretary and co-chaired by the Finance secretary.

The railway corporations would be exempted from “all taxes of any kind” by both national and local governments on its earnings and properties, as well as import duties on its railway materials, rolling stocks, spare parts and other supplies.

Railway construction

Each corporation would also be allowed to put up a power plant to ensure the continuous operation of the railways, as long as a cost-benefit analysis is done by PNRA first. PNRA would also be tasked to put up waste-to-energy plants in cooperation with local government units and the private sector.
Within three years of the bill’s enactment, PNRA will be required to identify the alignment of the National Railway System in consultation with the railway corporations.

The bill also lays down provisions regulating the construction of railways.
For one, project proponents will be required to provide access roads between lands crossed by the railway, and operators will have to put up fences if the need is determined by the PNRA.

Every railway line will also be required to have a maintenance group to ensure efficient operations, and PNRA will also have a railway safety or security officer to carry out inspections.

The bill also seeks to establish a Railway Training Center, which will issue license to train drivers. It also proposes a four-year baccalaureate course in the state-run University of the Philippines or the Polytechnic University of the Philippines to ensure the transfer of railway technology.

The railway system will be insured from natural and man-made disasters by the Government Service Insurance System.

Each passenger will also be covered by accident insurance of P200,000 in case of death or P100,000 in case of injury, to be adjusted every five years based for inflation.

Penalties

Under the bill, only the Supreme Court can issue a temporary restraining order or an injunction to stop the implementation of “any contract or project” of PNRA.

Illegal entry and occupation of railway properties will be punishable with imprisonment of six months to two years or fined at least P10,000. Obstruction, meanwhile, will be penalized with imprisonment of two to three years.

Theft of railway property will be punished with imprisonment of six to 12 years or a P1-million fine or even both.

Exceeding authorized speed limits, failure to properly maintain the system, failure to comply with safety and sanitation regulations, or failure to maintain a maintenance and accident record will also be punishable with a fine of P100,000 to P500,000.

Besides Alvarez, the other authors of the 27-page bill are Reps. Rodolfo FariƱas, Cesar Sarmiento, Juan Pablo Bondoc, Emi Calixto-Rubiano, Renato Unico Jr., Juliet Marie Ferrer, Alfred Vargas, Bayani Fernando, Anna Katrina Enverga, and Winston Castelo.

The explanatory note blames the deficiencies in the country’s railway system on “regulatory chaos since there is no central authority regulating the Philippine railway system.”

It notes that the lack of any such system in Visayas and Mindanao have “hampered the potential for economic growth and development.” /atm

Dance groups, DJs and bands to enliven convention

Buganda Dancers, Sindaw Dance Group, Higantes Group, Heat of the Night Band with Caren Tevanny, DJ Natalia Moon, Gabriela Ortega, and Giselle Sanchez are but some of the performers at the 2017 International Convention on Quality Control Circles (ICQCC) from Oct. 24 to 27 at Okada Manila.



The entertainment showcase is in partnership with the Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines headed by COO Cesar Montano.

The theme this year is “Quality Teams Evolved: Driving Change and Sustainability Through Quality Circle Evolution.”

The ICQCC is a yearly venue for exchanging ideas and experiences on QC Circle activities or team-based improvement programs among countries. The convention’s objectives are to promote professional development and growth, teamwork, good camaraderie, and problem solving skills, through project presentations.

The Quality and Productivity Association of the Philippines (QPAP), Inc., formerly known as Productivity Improvement Circles Association of the Philippines (PICAP), established in 1980, headed by Ms. Julie Tamayo, and Anthony San Mateo, immediate past president, spearheads this year’s ICQCC with 1500 expected delegates.

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Barkada treat

Padi’s Point and Andy Player Whiskey Cola held its grand raffle draw recently for its Happy Hour Barkada Treat promo. Three mountain bikes went to public school teacher Aquilino “Jun” Tibong, co-teacher Lea Joy Marcelo and Division of Navotas employee Luisa Elipan.

Jun’s raffle coupon was the winning entry drawn at Padi’s Point-Morato. Their favourite branch is at Sky Garden SM North Edsa.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, Oct. 21, go to former Presidential Adviser Gabby Claudio, Mitch Valdes, awarded director Joey Reyes, Irma Potenciano, Herbert Sy, Tessie E. Rodrigo, Charing Dulalia, Kookoo Gonzales, Celia Martinez-Flores, Ernest Tagle, Celia Cunanan, Delfin V. Cruz Jr., Joan Menguito, Marirose Sison-Garcia, Jesus Reynaldo V. Palma of California, Annaliza Velasco, Atty. Harry Roque, Vanessa Ricarte, Mandy Eduque, Gregor Christopher Uy Viscayda, Edwin Costa, twins John Lawrence and John Mark de la Cruz, Stephen Tomas Flores-Joseph, Kathy Tanjuatco, PDI’s Chelo Banal Formoso, Beth Gelema, and Pica Lozano of Star Magic…Oct. 22Lindsay Custodio-Platon, Conchitina Veloso, Tereret Liboro, Angel Cruz, Lito Talampas, Jane Enrile, Virginia R. Velasco, Anna Liza C. de Leon, Richard Merino, Helen Ong, Kristina Antonio Macapagal, Antonio La Vina, Nadine C. Teves, Jojo Guiao, Felino “Sonny” Timbol, Mary Ann “Baby” M. Montemayor, Marissa Francisco, Karla Yturzaeta and Matt Evans...Oct. 23: Ms. Verni Varga, Babes Tirona, Carol Jao, Marlyn Bermudez, Teody Buenaflor, Maria Belinda, Malou Matias, Lhen Estanislao, Fely Igmat, Baby Detoito, Joel David, Flores-Wenceslao, Deth Paras, Mrs. Maria Rosario, Fernandez, Lirio Covey, Boy Romero, realtor Don Moral, Adrian Elisan, Ramon Papa of O Bar Ortigas, Abegail Galang, Francesca Venice Reyes, Jel Cortez of FDCP,  Andre Garcia of Star Magic, MB’s Online editor Jojo Panaligan, Freddie Wells who turns 83 and Juanita Velasco Palma who turns 96 today… Happy wedding anniversary to Steve and Wilma Sarino