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G.R. No. L-13080           December 29, 1959
PANGASINAN TRANSPORTATION CO., INC. vs. TIMES TRANSPORTATION CO., INC. -->

EN BANC

G.R. No. L-13080           December 29, 1959

PANGASINAN TRANSPORTATION CO., INC., Petitioner, vs. TIMES TRANSPORTATION CO., INC., Respondent.

Juan T. Chuidian Law Office for petitioner.
Reyes, Alconcel and Del Castillo for respondent.

REYES, J.B.L., J.:

Petition for review filed by the oppositor-petitioner Pangasinan Transportation Co., Inc., against the decision of the Public Service Commission in its Case No. 96322, ordering the issuance of a Certificate of Public Convenience to the respondent Times Transportation Co., Inc. to operate a TPU (auto-trucks) service on the following lines:

Vigan, Ilocos Sur-Bolinao, Pangasinan (3 units)chanrobles virtual law library

Vigan, Ilocos Sur-Dagupan City (2 units)chanrobles virtual law library

Vigan, Ilocos Sur-Baguio City (1 unit).

Petitioner assails the decision on two grounds, namely: (a) that the evidence presented is not sufficient to reasonably support a grant of the certificate; and (b) that such questioned action of the Commission would only lead to ruinous competition among authorized operators.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary chanrobles virtual law library

The evidence of record establishes fully the need for more transportation services on the lines sought to be established by the respondent Times Transportation Co., Inc., a domestic corporation wholly owned by citizens of the Philippines. It is disclosed that, due to the fast expansion of commerce and industry in and around the area applied for, there has been increasing demand from the riding public for more and better transportation facilities. Existing operators admit there is no direct and continuous service from Vigan to Dagupan City or from Vigan to Bolinao, and with respect to the Vigan-Baguio City route, that only the Manila Railroad Company renders such service. While the mere absence of a direct or nontransfer service would not necessarily warrant an authorization for more or additional services, such absence, when coupled with an aggravating volume of traffic conditions along the lines proposed to be served, may justify the authorization. In the routes, applied for, witnesses declared that the means of transportation now available are inadequate to cope with the movement of passengers and the letter usually encounter many difficulties, inconveniences and delays before they are able to secure proper accommodations.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary chanrobles virtual law library

Petitioner would want us to examine and weigh the evidence anew arrive at conclusions different from the Commission's. Thus we may not do, except in those instances where "it clearly appears that there was no competent evidence before it to support reasonably its decision" (Espiritu vs. Los Baños, G.R. No. L-7121, July 30, 1955, cited and quoted in Bachrach Motor Co., Inc. et al. vs. Hipolito, G.R. No. L-9278, April 21, 1957), which is not true in this case.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary chanrobles virtual law library

Petitioner cites 1953 and 1956 decisions of the Public Service Commission denying previous application along the same proposed line (not for direct service), but those were based on circumstances peculiarly their own. Considering that the old applications were filed years before and that it appears that the traffic conditions have actually changed, we cannot attach much significance to these denials.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary chanrobles virtual law library

That the grant of the certificate in question would only lead to ruinous competition appears to be mere speculation, not supported by the evidence of record.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary chanrobles virtual law library

Wherefore, the decision under review is hereby affirmed. Costs against the petitioner.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary chanrobles virtual law library

Paras, C.J., Padilla, Bautista Angelo, Labrador, Conception, Endencia, Barrera and Gutierrez David, JJ., concur.