BALITANG PINOY

"We're gonna put more lines than the 20 mandated in the contract with the government and we will man it ourselves," telco's chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said during sidelines of Manila Electric Co.'s (Meralco) 2018 financial results briefing in Pasig City.

In a sworn statement, PLDT spokesman Ramon Isberto also said that the telco was making its move to address the problem.

"We are currently taking steps to address the concern expressed by the President to improve the public's access to the Citizen's Complaint Center 8888 hotline number," he said.

During the campaign sortie of ruling party PDP-Laban in Cebu City last Sunday, Duterte pointed out the effective implementation of anti-graft hotline following his discussion on anti-corruption efforts.

Credit Image: https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/02/26/19/pldt-moves-to-improve-govt-hotline-after-duterte-complaint

While discussing, Duterte warns the telco of the risk of closure if it fails to accommodate all the calls to the complaint hotline.

If you see corruption, tell me. Call 8888. Bong [former Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go], add another trunk line. The present setup can’t accommodate all the calls. It’s always busy. Tell PLDT. If not, I’ll shut down their business,” Duterte said.

“Oo, that’s true. I don’t want to brag, but they owe government eight billion [pesos]. No President has ever asked for payment. But when I became President, I said…,” he added.

In response to Duterte's further notice, Pangilinan expressed apology and making sure to take action forward.

"We apologize for that. We are glad that the President caught our attention to it," he added.

Pangilinan, who sits also as the chairman of Meralco explained that the complaint call center was undermanned.

"Apparently, the 8888 is really a call center operations for both telcos. We have 20 lines each. We're supposed to provide the lines, which we have provided but the lines are not manned properly, undermanned so not all the calls are getting answer," Pangilinan said.

In response to the service problem, Pangilinan said PLDT would add more trunk lines and increase personnel manning the 8888 call center, despite their contract saying they have to service 20 lines.

"We will forget what the agreement said so we will increase the number of lines to accommodate the calls and we will man it ourselves. So we are responding to the President's criticism," he said.

The 24-hour hotline was institutionalized in 2016 for the public to report corrupt or underperforming government officials and projects.

Opposition Senator Leila De Lima claimed the hotline failed to accommodate 1.4 million calls in the first five months from August to December 2016 due to same problem of being "undermanned."

She said that some people complained of being charged P5 per minute via mobile despite free of charge vows by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

“While there is no charge if they call via landline, this program is still not accessible to all, especially because not everyone has an access to landlines and prepaid mobile phone users would not be able to access the hotline either by call or SMS if they have no remaining credits,” she said.

In December 2017, De Lima has called on the Senate to probe the efficacy and accessibility in the implementation of the anti-graft hotline.

Manila-- Oil prices will increase at above 1 peso and set to be executed tomorrow, Tuesday February 26, 2019, the Department of Energy announced Monday.

The hike was on its 3rd consecutive week reflecting the upward movement of oil prices in the world market.

In an advisory released on Monday, Shell said diesel and gasoline prices will rise by Php 1.45 while kerosene will increase by Php1.35, effective 6am tomorrow.

The same follows with local gasoline stations namely Petro Gazz, Seaoil, Eastern Petroleum, Phoenix Petroleum and Total Philippines.

The above mentioned stations hike set effectivity at 6am aside from The Caltex (CPI) which announced 12 midnight hike implementation.

Earlier, Energy Undersecretary Wimpy Fuentabella explained in an interview with CNN Philippines that the rising oil prices in the international market was due to some global factors.

He explained that oil-producing countries cut their production by 1.2 million barrels per day which has started January due to "supply glut" or overproduction in the last three months of 2018.

He also cited Saudi Arabia's pronouncement that it will have more oil production cuts in the coming months and the U.S. sanction on Venezuela's national oil company amid the political turmoil in the South American country.

However, he clarified that the increase is not affected by the second tranche of the tax reform law, which establishes an additional ₱2 per liter excise tax on diesel and gasoline, ₱1 for every liter of kerosene, and ₱1 for every kilogram of cooking gas or liquefied petroleum gas in 2019.

"Hindi po kasama 'yung tranche 2 sa kwentong 'yan, ang kasama pa lang po d'yan ay 'yung movement sa world market prices," he said.

Fuentebella has sent an appeal to the motorists to be vigilant following the expected price hike.

"We have to be vigilant, we have to know that the retail prices for gasoline stations are different, you may even see  a ₱2 differential in the prices because these retail outlets are also competing for their right share in the market," he said.

Likewise, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi has also urged the public to be sensible in the use of energy and fuel amid rising oil prices in the world market.

"We are imploring the public to be conscious of their energy and fuel usage, especially during these times, as world oil prices are steadily climbing to high levels due to economic and geopolitical factors which we are bound to experience as an oil-importing country," Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said.

Meanwhile, transport groups were pleading the government to bring back the fare increase to Php10.00 as the oil prices continually rises.

The Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (FEJODAP) called on transport regulators to approve their petition for a jeepney fare hike.

"Tunay na reaction talagang kinakailangan bigyang aksyon ni chairman Delgra na ibalik ang piso namin na muling maging sampung piso ang pamasahe. Kung hindi talaga nalulugi ang mga tsuper, hindi naman po kami hihiling," FEJODAP President Zenaida Maranan said.

In response to the proposed petition, the Energy department said that fare increase will be implemented once the oil or crude price bumps to Php46.00.

MANILA--As the country comemmorates the 33rd Anniversary of the Edsa People Power Revolution on Monday, Vice President Leni Robredo slammed criticisms of "yellow" trademark and  partisan of political affiliates on its uprising.

"EDSA is "not defined" by any political color or specific group", said Robredo. 

The "Yellow" trademark and the term "dilawan" refer to members and local supporters of the Liberal Party, which has used the color in its election campaigns since the administration of former President Corazon Aquino, President Ferdinand Marcos' successor. 

"Nangyari lang naman ang EDSA dahil nagkaisa ang mga Pilipino," Robredo said. 

During Naga City's commemoration rites for the 33rd anniversary of EDSA uprising on Saturday led by the Vice President, she explained that looking at EDSA Revolution as purely the work of "yellows" was an insult to people who had no political affiliation but still took part in the uprising.

"Dahil tingin ko kung ganito ang pagtingin natin, insulto ito sa napakaraming mga Pilipino na wala naming political affiliations nung 1986," she added. 

While no one is being forced to attend the commemoration, Robredo said that Filipinos must remember the value of democracy that the People Power revolt taught the Filipinos lessons amid the dark and trying times to have voice as an ordinary individual.

"Para sa akin, mahalaga na kino-commemorate siya para hindi natin nakakalimutan yung lessons. At tingin ko pinakamahalagang lesson dun, pagpapaalala na ang kapangyarihan ay nasa kamay ng ordinaryong Pilipino," she added. 

Meanwhile, no word yet whether Duterte will grace the event of EDSA People Power revolution tomorrow as Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said.

"Wala pang nababanggit, pero umattend ba siya noon? Last time wala naman eh. Two years na siyang wala eh," Panelo said in his regular media briefing in Malacañang."

In 2017, Duterte was also in Davao during the People Power anniversary to lead a turnover of a drug rehabilitation center and the launch of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission.

"Most likely, hindi rin siya aattend. Maraming trabaho si Presidente eh. Kahapon nga eh, nagmamadali siyang tapusin, 30 minutes, kasi meron siyang lakad, sipag," he added.

Duterte, who is an ally of the Marcos family, is opted to not be present from the EDSA rites for the third straight year, as Panelo said.

Robredo in return, said that it is the president's choice whether he will attend or skip the commemoration.

"Ito kasi choice niya (Duterte) naman. Wala namang pinipilit mag-attend ng commemoration. Yung sa atin lang sana ma-break yung misconception na 'yung EDSA ay mga dilawan," Robredo explained.

On the other hand, when asked if President Rodrigo Duterte should skip the People Power Revolution event, former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said that the fight against the Marcos regime had already ended.

“Sa aking pananaw tama yun, ang February 25, 1986, tapos na yung labanan. Bumaba na ang Presidente ng Pilipinas at umalis na papunta nasa Hawaii,” Enrile said on radio station DZIW.

The country on Monday will observe the 33rd anniversary of the 1986 peaceful revolt that toppled the regime of the late dictator President Ferdinand Marcos. 

In line with the commemoration of the EDSA People Power Revolution Anniversary, classes and offices are suspended, as Feb 25, 2019 is a Special Non-Working Holiday in accordance to the Proclamation No. 555 signed by President Duterte.

 Manila--Consumers may feel inconvenience as the Suggested Retail price (SRP) of 56 basic goods from the convenience market is set to increase this month as the Department of Trade and Industry announced on Saturday.

The announcement has been said following the three-month price freeze in the basic commodities in 2018.

“The DTI implemented SRP adjustments after thorough evaluation and consultation with the manufacturers of basic and prime goods wherein the increases were kept to the absolute minimum,” DTI’s Consumer Protection Group Undersecretary Ruth B. Castelo said.

Eventhough peak inflation withstand during the last months of 2018, Castelo said the government find its way by making an appeal to manufacturers to not increase price of basic commodities as the Christmas season approached.

"Due to the three-month price hold-off that was implemented in the last quarter of 2018, no price increase was effected despite peak in inflation, oil price hike, peso devaluation, and increase in the prices of raw materials in the world market," she said in a statement.

The DTI attributed the price hikes to higher manufacturing costs, expensive raw materials, packaging, labor and fuel and a weaker peso.

The price increase raised by between 1 percent, mostly 5 percent except for salt, which went higher by 12 percent.

Several canned sardines of 155-gram increased price by P0.40 to P1.30 amid higher materials and packaging prices.

The price of fish went up by 33% in December due to the closed fishing season which began in November and gone operational to February 2019.

Evaporated and condensed milk products has  ranged from P0.50 to P1.10 and P0.50 to P1.20, respectively as the cost of skimmed milk powder and anhydrous milk fat increased, adding the weaker peso.

Prices of processed meat also increased due to higher costs from meat and packaging materials, the DTI confirmed.

Prices of vinegar, fish sauce, and soy sauce also increased due to significant rising cost of raw materials particularly the fish extract and soy bean meal, the labor rate, and packaging materials (PET bottle and carton)," the DTI added.

"The SRPs of vinegar range from P6.40 (200ml) to P14.70 (350ml), patis (350 ml) from P20.50 to P25.65, while soy sauce (340ml) ranges from P16.25 to P17.35," it stated.

Price increase was approved by the DTI on February 13 but only released the list accessible on its website on February 20, 2019.

Castelo added that 242 goods under the SRP list, 186 or 77 percent retained their prices.

Meanwhile, Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said several of the brands which were granted SRP increases cooperated late last year with the DTI’s request not to increase prices for three months to contain inflation.