Erwin Tulfo wants to criminalize ‘license-for-rent’ scheme

SENATOR Erwin ‘Winong’ Tulfo wants to criminalize the so-called ‘license-for-rent’ scheme, which surfaced as a central modus operandi in the past flood control project scam probe hearings in the Senate.

Under his proposed ‘License Integrity Act,’ the lending, borrowing, and fraudulent use of licenses will be given a penalty of imprisonment of between 3 to 12 years and a fine of between P300,000.00 to P3 million.

The said measure shall cover not only the license of accredited contractors at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) but also, the customs brokers license for those transacting with the Bureau of Customs (BOC), and the environmental licenses issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

“These privileges have often been misused and abused. A disturbing practice has emerged where grantees lend, lease, sell, or otherwise allow third parties to unlawfully use their licenses, while others fraudulently obtain or misrepresent such privileges to cloak illegitimate transactions under the guise of legality,” Tulfo said.

In Tulfo’s proposed bill, public officials who will issue licenses to unqualified or conflicted applicants would also face criminal and administrative cases.

“This affirms the nature of licenses and permits as personal, non-transferable privileges subject to the continuing oversight of the State,” he added.