PLDT Inc. on Tuesday issued a statement in response to President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s remarks last Sunday that he will “shut down” the company if it cannot set up more trunklines to accommodate citizens’ complaints. Manuel V. Pangilinan, PLDT, Inc. chairman, president and CEO, told reporters on Tuesday, “We apologize for that. We’re glad that the President called our attention to it.” He added: “It’s a bit more complicated than what it appears. Apparently the 8888 is really a call center operations for both telcos, 20 lines each. And they’re supposed to provide the lines, which we have provided, but the lines are not manned properly. They’re undermanned….To be fair, while it’s a 20-20, total of 40 lines, 20 each, we have 20 but we’re getting 75% of calls. I guess we have more fixed line subscribers. We’re gonna put in more lines than the 20 mandated or agreed with the government, and we will man it because the manning it is supposed to be government.” For his part, PLDT, Inc. Public Affairs Head Ramon R. Isberto said, “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.” Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has interest in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls.

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