DEPARTMENT OF LEGAL MANAGEMENT

College of Arts and Sciences

San Beda University- Manila

LMG 13: OTHER COMMERCIAL LAWS

Final Term: Public Utilities and Transportation Laws
- J.P. Del Rosario

COURSE SYLLABUS
DURATION TOPICS ACTIVITIES

I. INTRODUCTION  Discussion
Week 12
1
 Recitation
a. Public Utility, explained  Lecture
b. Transportation, defined  Debate
c. Extent of Public Service or Use  Case
Tatad v. Garcia, G.R. No. 114222, April 6, 1995 Digests and
d. Contract of Carriage / Transportation Analysis
- Carriage of Passengers
- Carriage of Goods

II. REGULATION

a. State Regulations of Public Utilities (Art. 1765, NCC)

b. Constitutional provisions / limitations
c. Certificate of Public Convenience
d. Registered Owner Rule
Equitable Leasing Corp. v. Suyom, G.R. No. 143360,
September 5, 2002;
Benedicto v. IAC, 187 SCRA 547, July 19, 1990;
BA Finance Corp. v. CA, 215 SCRA 715, November 13, 1992
Duavit vs. CA,GR. No. 82318, May18,1989;
e. “Kabit System”
Lim vs. CA, G.R. No. 125817, January 16,2002
f. “Boundary System”
Jardin v. NLRC, G.R. No. 119268, February 23, 2000
g. Governing laws

III. COMMON CARRIERS IN GENERAL  Discussion

Week 13-14  Recitation
a. Definition of Common Carrier (Art. 1732, NCC)  Lecture
Bascos v.CA, 221 SCRA 318, April 7, 1993;  Debate
National Steel Corp. v. CA, 283 SCRA 45, December 12, 1997  Case
b. Private Carrier Digests and
Calvo v. UCPB General Insurance Terminal Services Inc. G.R. Analysis
148496, March 19, 2002;
Home Insurance Co. v. American Steamship Agencies, 23
SCRA 24, April 4, 1968
c. Diligence Required (Arts. 1733, 1755 of NCC)
Calvo v. UCPB General Insurance Terminal Services Inc. G.R.
148496, March 19, 2002;
Davao Stevedore Co. v. Fernandez, 54 O.G. No. 5, 1957
d. Nature and Basis of liability (Art. 1733, NCC)
-Culpa Contractual; Culpa Aquilana and Culpa Criminal
Cangco v. Manila Railroad Co. 38 Phil 768, October 14, 1918
Medina v. Cresencia, 99 Phil 506, July 11, 1956

1
 IV. COMMON CARRIER OF GOODS

i. Obligations over the goods

- Duty to accept the goods
- Duty to deliver the goods
- Duty to exercise extraordinary diligence
ii. Liability for loss; Presumption of negligence (Arts. 1734, 1735,
NCC)
iii. Effects of delay; Oft-repeated rule
Saudo Jr. v. CA, G.R. No. 95536, March 23, 1992
Maerskline v. CA, 222 SCRA 108, May 17, 1993
iv. Exemption from liability (Arts. 1734, 1739, 1742, 1743, 1744, NCC)
a. Natural disaster
Tan Chiong Sian v. Yngchausti & Co., 22 Phil 152, March 18, 1912;
b. Act of public enemy
c. Act of shipper
Compania Maritima v. CA, 164 SCRA 685, August 29, 1988
d. Character of goods
Government of the Philippines v. Ynchausti & Co. 40 Phil 219,
September 29, 1919
e. Order of competent authority
Ganzon v. CA, 161 SCRA 646, May 30, 1988
f. Other causes of force majeure
Quisumbing, SR. v. CA, 189 SCRA 605, September14, 1990
v. Duration of Liability (Art. 1736-1738, NCC)
Lu do vs. Binamara, 101 Phil 120, April 22, 1957
Ganzon v. CA, 161 SCRA 646, May 30, 1988
Macam v. CA, G.R. No. 125524, August 25, 1999
vi. Stipulation for limitation of liability (Arts. 1744-1754 NCC)
a. As to diligence required
Home Insurance Co. v. American Steamship Agencies, 8Z23 SCRA 24,
April 4, 1968
b. As to amount of liability
H.E. Heacock Co. v. Macondary & Co., 42 Phil 205, October 3, 1921
Eastern Shipping Lines, Inc. v. IAC, 150 SCRA 463.
Everett Steamship Corp. v. CA, 297 SCRA 496, October 8, 1988.
c. Factors affecting agreement; presumption of negligence
d. Passenger’s baggage
Alitalia v. IAC, 192 SCRA 9, December 4, 1990
Sarkies Tours Phil., Inc. v. CA, 280 SCRA 58, October 2, 1997

V. COMMON CARRIERS OF PASSENGERS  Discussion

Week 15-16  Recitation
a. Nature of responsibility (Art. 1732, 1733, 1755 NCC)  Lecture
Laguna Tayabas Bus v. Tiongson, 16 SCRA 940, April 30, 1960;  Debate
Landicho v. BTC, 52 O.G. 764, Septemeber 20, 1956;  Case
Lasam v. Smith, 45 Phil 657, February 2, 1924; Digests and
La Mallorca v. De Jesus, 17 SCRA 23, May 14, 1966; Analysis
b. Duration of liability
Aboitiz Shipping v. CA, GR No. 84458, November 6, 1989;
Jesusa Vda Nueca, et al. v. Manila Railroad Company, CA-No. 31731,
1968;
LRTA v. Natvidad, GR. 145804, February 6, 2002
c. Presumption of negligence (Art. 1756 NCC)
Sy v. Malate Taxicab & Garage, Inc. 102 Phil 482, November 29, 1957;
Mallari, Sr. v. CA, 324 SCRA 147, January 31, 2000
d. Limitations of liability (Arts. 1757, 1758 NCC)
Lara v. Valencia, 104 Phil 65, June 30, 1958
e. Liability for acts of employees (Arts. 1759, 1760 NCC)
De Gillaco v. MRR, 97 Phil 844, December 18, 1955
f. Liability for acts of strangers; co-passengers (Art. 1763 NCC)
MRR c. Ballesteros, 16 SCRA 641, April 29, 1966;
Fortune Express, Inc. v. CA, 305 SCRA 14, March 18, 1999
 g. Duty of Passenger, Effect of contributory negligence (Arts.
1761-1762 NCC)
Philippine National Railways v. CA, 139 SCRA 87, October 4, 1985;
Dangwa Transportation Co., Inc. v. CA, 205 SCRA 574, October 7, 1991
h. Liability for Quasi-delict
Calalas v. CA, 332 SCRA 356, May 31, 2000;

WEEK 17
FINAL EXAMINATION
(Coverage is the whole of LAW OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAWS and
PUBLIC UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION LAWS)

Reference materials:

 Law on Transportation by Rufus Rodriguez (Manila: Rex Bookstore, 2004).

 Notes and Cases on the Law on Transportation and Public Utilities by T. Aquino and R. Hernando
(Manila: Rex Bookstore, 2004).
 Transportation Laws: Notes and Cases by Noli Diaz (Manila: Rex Bookstore, 2001).