Incidents like NLEX-Valenzuela row may turn off investors—Palace

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang warned Thursday that incidents similar to the ongoing row between the Valenzuela City government and the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Corporation may turn off future investors.

During his regular Palace press briefing, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that it is well within the authority of local governments to issue and suspend business permits that fall within their jurisdiction.

But he was quick to point out the need to “balance” the issue to avoid turning away investors.

“Hindi naman po natin pupwede ipagkait sa mga lokal na pamahalaan iyong kanilang hurisdiksyon na mag-issue ng business permits dahil iyan po ay nasa batas din, nasa Local Government Code at kasama po sa konsepto ng local autonomy na kabahagi rin po ng ating Saligang Batas.” Roque said.

(We cannot deny local governments their power to issue business permits within their jurisdictions because that is the law, it is stated in the Local Government Code and mandated within the concept of local autonomy which forms part of the Constitution.)

“But at the same time, kinakailangan din nilang isipin na babalansehin natin ito dahil iyong mga proyekto na gaya ng expressways na dinevelop po ng pribadong sektor eh baka mamaya ma-turn off ang mga future investors kung palaging mangyayari ito,” he added.

(There is a need to be a balance the issue because projects like expressways were developed by the private sector, and investors might get turned off if this keeps on happening.)

Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian earlier ordered the suspension of the business permit of the NLEX Corp. after failing to address the heavy traffic caused by its cashless toll collection at its toll plazas in Valenzuela City.

READ: Gatchalian halts NLEX Corp. operation in Valenzuela City amid ‘RFID mess’

/MUF