Pangasinan Transport Co. vs. Public Service CommissionGR NO. PANTRANCO vs.

PSC, 70 Phil 229 (1940)

47065, June 26, 1940

FACTS: FACTS:
This is a case on the certificate of public convenience of petitioner PangasinanTransportation
Co. Inc (Pantranco). The petitioner has been engaged for the PANTRANCO, a holder of an existing Certificate of Public Convenience is applying to
past twentyyears in the business of transporting passengers in the province of Pangasinan operate additional buses with thePublic Service Commission (PSC). The PSC granted
and Tarlac,Nueva Ecija and Zambales. On August 26, 1939, Pantranco filed with the Public
the application but added several conditions for PANTRANCO’s compliance.
ServiceCommission (PSC) an application to operate 10 additional buses. PSC
granted theapplication with 2 additional conditions which was made to apply
also on their existingbusiness. Pantranco filed a motion for reconsideration ISSUE:
with the Public Service Commission.Since it was denied, Pantranco then filed
a petition/ writ of certiorari. PANTRANCO is questioning whether PSC can impose said conditions. If so, wouldn’t
this power of the PSC, as provided for under sec. 15, CA 146, constitute undue
ISSUES: delegation of powers?
Whether the legislative power granted to Public Service Commission:-
- is unconstitutional and void because it is without limitation HELD:
- constitutes undue delegation
of powers SC held that there was valid delegation of powers.

HELD: The theory of the separation of powers is designed by its originators to secure
The challenged provisions of Commonwealth Act No. 454 are valid and action at the same time forestall overaction which necessarily results from undue
constitutionalbecause it is a proper delegation of legislative power, so called concentration of powers and thereby obtain efficiency and prevent deposition. But
It is a valid delegation because of the growing due to the growing complexity of modern life, the multiplication of subjects of
complexities of modern government, thecomplexities or multiplication of
governmental regulation and the increased difficulty of administering laws, there is
the subjects of governmental regulation and the increaseddifficulty of
a constantly growing tendency toward the delegation of greater powers by the
administering the laws. All that has been delegated to the Commission is
theadministrative function, involving the use of discretion to carry out the will of the legislature, giving rise to the adoption, within certain limits, of the principle of
NationalAssembly having in view, in addition, the promotion of public interests in a proper “subordinate legislation.”
andsuitable manner.The Certificate of Public Convenience is neither a
franchise nor contract, confers noproperty rights and is a mere license or All that has been delegated to the Commission is the administrative function,
privilege, subject to governmental control for thegood of the public. PSC has the involving the use of discretion to carry out the will of the National Assembly having
power, upon notice and hearing, amend, modify, orrevoked at any time any in view, in addition, the promotion of public interests in a proper and suitable
certificate issued, whenever the facts and circumstances sowarranted. The manner.
limitation of 25 years was never heard, so the case was remanded to PSCfor
further proceedings.In addition, the Court ruled that, liberty and property
of the citizens should beprotected by the rudimentary requirements of fair
play. Not only must the party be givenan opportunity to present his case and
to adduce evidence tending to establish the rightsthat he asserts but the
tribunal must consider the evidence presented. When privateproperty is
affected with a public interest, it ceased to be juris privati or private use only.