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'Wala ba kayong GC?': Imee hits fare hike suspension, says it's confusing

Philippines | National

'Wala ba kayong GC?': Imee hits fare hike suspension, says it's confusing

By Dhel Nazario

At A Glance

Senator Imee Marcos criticized her brother, President Marcos, anew, this time for suspending the implementation of the impending fare hike.

Senator Imee Marcos criticized her brother, President Marcos, anew, this time for suspending the implementation of the impending fare hike.

Senator Imee Marcos (Senate PRIB photo)

Senator Imee Marcos (Senate PRIB photo)

In a chance interview on Wednesday, March 18, Senator Imee said that the move is confusing.

"Nakakalito, nakita naman natin sa kalsada, halos walang tao kasi akala may fare hike. Biglang inatras na naman. Ano ba talaga? (It’s confusing—we saw it ourselves on the streets, there were hardly any people because they thought there would be a fare hike. Then suddenly it was pulled back again. What is it really?)" she said.

"Wala ba kayong GC? Nakakalito. Ginulo nyo kami hanggang gabi kagabi na tapusin na yung excise tax authorization sa Presidente (Don't you have a GC (group chat)? You kept us scrambling until late last night just to finish the excise tax authorization for the President)," she added.

A day prior, the Senate just approved on third and final reading the bill that would authorize the President to suspend the excise tax on fuel as a means to cushion the effects of the Middle East tensions to fuel prices.

Due to the oil price hikes, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has approved the petition for fare increase for almost all of the public utility vehicles (PUVs).

Yet in a video message on Wednesday, March 18, President Marcos said he has ordered the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to suspend the fare increase.

Meanwhile, in response to the President's decision, Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III said that subsidy for the transport industry would be best to offset their setback.

Related Tags

President Marcos imee marcos oil price hike fare hike

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