‘Abolish oppressive toll board’

Parañaque City Rep. Eduardo Zialcita filed a bill yesterday seeking to abolish the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB).

In his proposed measure, Zialcita emphasized that "it is the absolute duty of the State to ensure that its citizens are protected from those erring government agencies and their officers who are useless, oppressive, ignorant and defiant of the law and public policy."

The congressman filed the bill after the Supreme Court (SC) junked his petition to stop the collection of fees at the South Luzon Tollway (SLT).

The High Court’s decision was based on a mere technicality after the justices pointed out that Zialcita and lawyer Ceferino Padua should have filed it first before the TRB.

The lawmaker said that upon abolition of the TRB, its powers, functions, and duties would be transferred to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

The MMDA would also "assume all existing contracts and agreements made by and entered into by the TRB on behalf of the government."

On the other hand, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) or any other government entity that may be created by law or an executive order or issuance would be given the task to handle the "construction, maintenance and operation of all future toll facilities located outside of Metro Manila."

Zailcita said he would ask the SC to reconsider its decision. He pointed out that filing the petition before the TRB would be "prejudicial" to the petitioners.

He noted the TRB was party to the contract that allowed the Citra Metro Manila Tollway Corp. (CMMTC), operators of the Skyway and the at-grade portion of the SLT, to increase the toll rate this year. "How can the TRB rule against itself?" Zailcita asked.

The Parañaque congressman has criticized the TRB for allowing the toll increases at both the SLT and the North Luzon Expressway. Motorists are the ones who automatically carry the burden, he said.

The TRB approved the petition for the toll increase before Christmas last year. The new rates are nearly 100-percent higher than those of last year.