Palace disputes 'helpless' tag amid fuel price hikes

A Palace official sought to dispute on Saturday depictions of the Aquino administration as "helpless" against fuel price hikes and assured that President Benigno Aquino III is ready to listen to concerns of transport groups claiming their members are reeling from the impact of successive fuel price hikes. Presidential Deputy Spokesperson Abigail Valte also indicated during an interview on government-run dzRB radio that suspending the value-added tax on fuel products is not among the measures government is considering to cushion the effects of high world market prices of oil and fuel products. “Ngayon magkakaroon tayo ng dialogue with leaders of transport groups… The President wants to hear their concerns (and) find out what ways we can agree on to move forward," Valte said. The date of Aquino’s dialogue with transport sector leaders has yet to be set. “Kung naalala nyo sabi ng Pangulong Aquino may pinupuntahan, kung tatanggalin natin ang (VAT), proyekto ng pamahalaan matatamaan," Valte also said. Valte claimed the Aquino administration as “helpless" against rising fuel prices by referring to the fuel subsidy or Pantawid Pasada program for drivers and operators of public utility jeepneys and tricycles. “Hindi tayo helpless that wala tayong pwedeng gawin. Nakita natin nang pinakita natin (ang) subsidy... That proves ‘di tayo helpless," Valte asserted. — ELR, GMA News