Facts:

The case at hand is titled A. L. Ammen Transportation Co., Inc. v. Consuelo Weber (G.R. No. 49996) and was decided on June 17, 1940. The respondent, Consuelo Weber, applied for a certificate of public convenience from the Commission on Public Services to establish a taxicab service within the municipality of Daet, Camarines Norte, and adjacent municipalities. The petitioner, A. L. Ammen Transportation Co., Inc., opposed this application, arguing that Daet is relatively small and does not necessitate a taxicab service. The petitioner claimed to already operate a public transportation service with large vehicles in the same locality, thus asserting that Weber's proposed service was redundant. The Commission reviewed both parties’ evidence and on October 21, 1939, granted Weber's request under specific conditions. Unhappy with this decision, Ammen Transportation initiated a revision and challenged the Commission's ruling on two main grounds: first, that the Commission e

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Facts:

Application for Certificate of Convenience Public

• Consuelo Weber, the applicant, sought a certificate of public convenience to operate a taxicab service in the municipality of Daet and adjacent municipalities/barrios in Camarines Norte.
• The proposed service was intended to provide rapid and comfortable transportation for residents, particularly those residing away from main thoroughfares.

Opposition to the Application

• A. L. Ammen Transportation Co., Inc. opposed the application on the basis that:
• The municipality of Daet was relatively small and did not necessitate a taxicab service.
• The existing public transportation system using buses (autocamiones) was adequate for the current population and area.
• The opponent argued that the imposition of a new service would be unnecessary given the available transport alternatives.

Commission Proceedings and Findings

• The Commission on Public Utilities (formerly the Commission de Servicios Publicos) meticulously reviewed the application and the opposition.
• Evidence was presented by both parties regarding:
• Public necessity and convenience of a taxicab service.
• The adequacy and limitations of the current public transport system.
• The financial capability of Consuelo Weber to establish and sustain the service.
• The Commission determined that:
• The cumulative evidence sufficiently demonstrated the need for a taxicab service in the proposed area.
• Even though the applicant did not explicitly assert public convenience, the overall evidence supported the existence of both necessity and convenience.
• The applicant possessed the financial resources required to successfully embark on the taxicab business.
• The operation should be limited to specific municipalities (Daet, Talisay, San Vicente, and Basud).

Argument in the Appeal

• A. L. Ammen Transportation Co. subsequently filed an appeal, contending that:
• The decision granting the certificate was not reasonably supported by the evidence.
• Public necessity and convenience did not justify the operation of taxicabs in the designated areas.
• The appellant maintained that the existing transportation services were sufficient, thereby negating any additional public need.

Evidentiary Support Considered

• Demographic data revealed a combined population of 33,714 inhabitants in the selected municipalities, underscoring a potential demand for enhanced transport services.
• Geographical considerations included:
• The existence of long streets in Daet, with some being one and a half to two kilometers in length, which impeded efficient travel using the current system.
• The limited coverage by the buses (autocamiones), which primarily served the provincial highway.
• Instances of inconvenience during emergencies or nighttime, when alternative transport (such as calesas or P.U. cars) became necessary despite additional costs or effort.

Legal Provisions

• The decision was anchored on the provisions of Article 35 of Law No. 3108.
• Under this law, an agency decision may only be overturned if it is either not reasonably supported by the evidence or contrary to the law.

Issue:

• Whether the Commission’s decision to grant a certificate of public convenience for the operation of taxicabs in specific municipalities was reasonably supported by the evidence presented.
• Whether the evidence adequately demonstrated the public necessity and convenience for a taxicab service in Daet and its adjacent areas.
• Whether, under Article 35 of Law No. 3108, the decision could be annulled on the grounds that it was either unsupported by evidence or contrary to the law.

Ruling:

• (Subscriber-Only)

Ratio:

• (Subscriber-Only)

Doctrine:

• (Subscriber-Only)