President Arroyo will continue to take chartered or commercial flights on her trips here and abroad, it was announced.

She scrapped on Sunday the planned purchase of a P1.2- billion presidential jet.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the President Arroyo has decided to cancel the acquisition of a new executive jet to prove her needs do not come first in governance.

“I’m formally announcing the President has ordered the cancellation of the purchase of the presidential jet. This is the second time that the President has ordered its cancellation even if this has long been recommended by the Presidential Airlift Wing several times,” Remonde said.

“She ordered the cancellation because of ayaw niyang sabihin na naman na kung inuuna na naman yung kanyang pangangailangan(she does not want people to say her needs are given priority),” he added.

Remonde said, however, the new executive jet would not have just benefited the President but also her successors to ensure their safety and minimize cost during local and foreign travels.

“The President gives priority that something her successor will enjoy more than she can. I think it’s practical that she will do so,” he said.

Last Friday, Malacanang took pains in defending its decision to buy a presidential jet worth a whopping P1.2 billion after its advertisement came out in a newspaper. The planned purpose of the jet came amid the deluge of criticisms against the President for her reported expensive dinners during a recent trip to the United States.

Deputy Presidential Spokesman Gary Olivar said the Presidential Airlift Wing (PAW) has two fixed-wing aircraft, a F-28 and F-27, but these were old and costly to maintain.

With only one aircraft in good running condition, the President often charters civilian aircraft for her travels, which the Palace claimed, “can be very costly and poses a high- security risk.”

The bids and awards committee of Office of the President earlier placed a newspaper ad inviting bidders for the acquisition of a new twin-engine jet equipped with instruments compliant with the International Civil Aviation Organization and the Federal Aviation Administration standards.