The Court reminds the government and its agencies that it is their obligation to initiate eminent domain proceedings whenever they intend to take private property for any public purpose.

On a final note, there are several cases which reached this Court in which Transco and even other government agencies constructed transmission lines, tunnels and other infrastructures before it decided to expropriate the private properties upon which they built the same. The Court reminds the government and its agencies that it is their obligation to initiate eminent domain proceedings whenever they intend to take private property for any public purpose. Before the expropriating power enters a private property, it must first file an action for eminent domain43and deposit with the authorized government depositary an amount equivalent to the assessed value of the property.44

Transco should first file an expropriation case before it proceeds to construct transmission lines or any other infrastructure on any private property. The practice of construct first, expropriate later must be put to a stop.