Palace disputes Inquirer headline on fare hike statement

Panelo clarified that Palace commiserates with the riding public but assured that the fare hike was only “temporary.” (File Photo: Office of the Presidential Spokesperson/Facebook)

MANILA — Malacañang has disputed a newspaper headline pertaining to its statement on jeepney fare hikes, saying it never asked the public to “stop whining” but merely sought for more patience amid rising prices of goods.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo was reacting to a Philippine Daily Inquirer article dated Oct. 19, titled “Panelo: Stop Whining About Fare Hires.”

Panelo shared a copy of the transcript released on the same date to dispel doubts about his statement.

“RESPONSE: Well, the message is always: ‘this is just temporary.’ So, hopefully, when everything settles down, babalik tayo sa dati (we’ll return to what we were before),” Panelo’s statement read.

Panelo clarified that Palace commiserates with the riding public but assured that the fare hike was only “temporary.”

“While we commiserate with the riding public as they endure another round of fare hikes, we appeal for the understanding of the citizenry as the government has no choice but to allow the increase due to soaring prices of oil in the global market,” Panelo said.

“This office has further said that the situation is just ‘temporary,’” he added

Panelo also assured that the Duterte administration “hears the plaints of our people” and “will do its best to address this situation.”

On Wednesday, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) approved a PHP2 fare increase for public utility jeepneys.

In its decision, the LTFRB said it has granted a petition filed by various transport groups seeking for a permanent fare hike for jeepneys — from PHP8 to PHP10.

“The Board hereby resolves to grant the petition for a fare increase, to make permanent the provisional increase of PHP1 granted on July 6, 2018 and an additional PHP1 for the first four kilometers or a minimum fare of PHP10 from the original fare of PHP8,” the LTFRB decision read.

Malacañang earlier said President Rodrigo R. Duterte will soon order the temporary suspension of the second tranche of excise tax on fuel.

Panelo said there will soon be proper documents that will be issued on the suspension.

The Department of Finance (DOF) earlier said current price and multiple estimates of crude prices over the next two months show that the average price will stay above the USD80 threshold.

Under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law, suspension of excise tax levied on petroleum products may be suspended in 2019 if global crude prices average USD80 per barrel for three consecutive months.