MARITIME WATCHKEEPER

Today I received an email from one “Raul Felicen” which could be a pen name about some goings on at the PPA.  I have reason to believe that what he writes about is actually happening.

I have invited him to post his message here in the hope that we would be provided with evidence on what is really going on especially in the implementation of the President’s projects on infra-structure.

Raul, all you have to do is register yourself in this blog which is designed to protect your identity, so you do not have to be afraid of exposing your personal circumstances. 

Once you are registered, then you can either write a post or simply just make comments by clicking on “Comments” below.

The Manila Bulletin reported on October 20, 2006 observations made by Socio Economic Planning Secretary Romulo Neri about government regulatory agencies’ capture by players they are supposed to regulate.

“Neri identified six government agencies, which he described as prone to regulatory capture, during his presentation at a speech before the 32nd Philippine Business Conference (PBC) at the Manila Hotel.

These agencies are Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).”

Out of the six agencies mentioned by Neri, only the ERC has so far challenged Neri’s observations.  This was reported by the Philippine Daily Inquirer on November 4, 2006.  The report seems to indicate that there is some disagreement to Neri’s observations about regulatory capture even among Cabinet members.

Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) chair Rodolfo Albano Jr. does not agree with Neri and claims that his allegations with ERC are “all just based on hearsay”. Can the MARINA and PPA chiefs issue the same statement as Albano’s?