Tolls for roads, bridges, canal, and ferries.
Section 34
SEC. 34. Tolls for roads, bridges, canal, and ferries. — When the local board or council shall deem it necessary for the maintenance of any road or canal within its territory, it may designate that road or canal or part thereof, or any bridge or ferry, built or to be built, or maintained as part thereof, as a toll road bridge, canal or ferry, and may fix tolls therefor at reasonable rates. In the exercise of the authority above conferred, the local board or council shall deem it necessary for the maintenance of any road or canal within its territory, it may designate that road or canal or part thereof, or any bridge or ferry, built, or maintained as part thereof, as a toll road, bridge, canal or ferry, and may fix tolls thereof at reasonable rates. In the exercise of the authority above conferred, the local board or council may erect toll gates or equip ferries and may employ persons necessary to operate them. The proceeds derived from these sources shall be applied only to the payment of interests and sinking fund charges, in case the toll road canal o bridge has been financed from loans or bond issues, and to the repair and maintenance of the road, canal or bridge for which the collections were made. In the event that such proceeds exceed the amount which the local government shall apply annually to the payment of interests and sinking fund charges on the bonds and to the repair and maintenance of the road, canal or bridge for which the collections were made, the local board or council may subject to th approval of the Secretary of Public Works and Communications and upon such terms and conditions as he may prescribe, borrow from the proceeds not to exceed ninety percent of the excess collections, without interest and for public works only. Whenever, thirty days after service of a request by the provincial board, any municipality shall decline or neglect to establish and maintain a suitable ferry over any stream or other water situated upon the course of a municipal road, the provincial board may establish and maintain a provincial toll ferry at that place and collect reasonable rates of ferriage for its use. No toll or ferriage authorized herein shall be collected from: (a) officers and enlisted men of the United States Armed Forces or other employees of the United States Government in the Philippines; (b) officers and enlisted men of the Armed Forces of the Philippines; (c) members of the municipal police; (d) national, provincial, municipal or barrio officers and employees on official business; (c) any person travelling on foot or mounted on an animal, alone or accompanying animals; (f) vehicles engaged primarily in the carrying of mail; and (g) animal-drawn vehicles. When the local board or council decides that the collection of tolls in accordance with the provisions hereof may be discontinued without injury to the public welfare, it shall order a discontinuance of the collection of the tolls, and thereafter the road, bridge, canal or ferry in question shall be free for public use.