Palace hopes telcos do their best to improve 8888 complaint hotline

Malacañang on Thursday expressed hope telecommunications companies would give their best in improving citizens’ complaint hotline 8888.

In a statement, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo pointed out that President Rodrigo Duterte would be disappointed if Filipinos' efforts to access the hotline are frustrated, noting that this was among his first executive orders after assuming the presidency.

"Before the issuance of Executive Order No. 6, public avenues for redress of grievances were largely fragmented among different government agencies and the public was left guessing as to whom to contact and request for an update as regards the status of their complaints," Panelo said.

"Thus, the President envisioned the creation of an integrated system for the consolidation, monitoring and addressing of complaints that would be accessible to every Filipino 24/7, which is prompt and responsive."

At present, the complaint hotline operations are under the direct supervision of the Office of the President, according to Panelo.

Earlier, Duterte threatened he would order the closure of PLDT, Inc. if it fails to add trunk lines to the citizens’ complaint hotline 8888.

It was in 2016 when the 24-hour hotline was institutionalized in order for the public to report corrupt or under-performing government officials and projects.

Following Duterte's threat, PLDT Inc., for its part, vowed to increase the number of trunk lines to the citizens' complaint hotline 8888. —Anna Felicia Bajo/LBG, GMA News