Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 8148)
The main purpose of Republic Act No. 8148 is to further extend the term of the franchise originally granted to Consuelo D. Borja, now held by Iligan Light and Power, Inc., for a period of twenty-five years from the date of its expiration.
The original franchise was granted under Act Numbered 3810 and extended under Republic Act Numbered 6391.
The current holder of the franchise is Iligan Light and Power, Inc., as the successor-in-interest of Consuelo D. Borja.
The franchise is extended under the same terms and conditions provided in the original grant and is subject to the provisions of the Philippine Constitution.
The franchise is extended for twenty-five (25) years from the date of its expiration.
No, the grantee cannot lease, transfer, grant usufruct of, sell, assign, or merge the franchise without the approval and/or consent of the Congress of the Philippines.
The franchise or the rights and privileges acquired thereunder cannot be sold, leased, transferred, assigned, or merged to any person, firm, company, corporation, or other legal entity without Congressional approval.
The Act took effect upon its approval and lapsed into law on September 4, 1995, without the President's signature, pursuant to Section 27(1), Article VI of the Philippine Constitution.
Such action would be unauthorized and unconstitutional, potentially leading to legal penalties or nullification of the transfer or assignment.
It means that the Act became law automatically after 30 days from submission to the President, who neither signed nor vetoed it, as provided by the Constitution.