Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 1270)
The Commission has jurisdiction, supervision, and control over all public services and their franchises, equipment, and other properties, with necessary powers and the aid of the public force, except it cannot require steamboats, motorships, and steamship lines to obtain certificates of public convenience or prescribe their routes.
The Commission cannot require steamboats, motorships, and steamship lines, whether privately or government-controlled, to obtain certificates of public convenience or to prescribe definite routes or lines of service.
Public service includes any person who owns, operates, manages, or controls in the Philippines, for hire or compensation, common carriers such as railroads, motor vehicles (freight or passenger), express services, steamboats, shipyards, warehouses, ice plants, irrigation systems, sewerage, utilities like gas, electric, water supply, petroleum, telephone, wireless telegraph, and broadcasting radio stations, among others.
No. A person engaged in agriculture who uses a motor vehicle personally or enters a special contract offering the vehicle for hire to other agricultural parties for specific farming or related activities is not considered to be operating a public service.
The term 'person' includes every individual, copartnership, joint-stock company, corporation whether domestic or foreign, their lessees, trustees, receivers, municipalities, provinces, branches or agencies of the government, and any other entities operating public services.
Yes. Utilities such as electric light, heat and power, water supply, gas, petroleum, and sewerage systems are included within the scope of public services.
Common carriers including railroads, street railways, subways, motor vehicles for freight or passengers, steamboats, steamship lines, pontoon ferries, and small watercraft engaged in transportation of passengers and freight.
Both privately owned entities and government-controlled corporations or instrumentalities owning public services fall under the Commission's jurisdiction, except for specific exclusions like steamboats and motorships.
Yes, municipalities and provinces are included as 'persons' and may own, operate, or control public services covered by the Act.
This Act took effect upon its approval on June 14, 1955.