Bus companies participating in the Free Bus Service for Health Workers Program of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) will get fuel subsidies from oil refining and marketing company Petron Corporation starting April 13, 2020.
The Petron fuel subsidy, which was made possible through the donation of San Miguel Corporation (SMC) Infrastructure, will be given to 60 bus units, with an allocation of 50 liters each per day. This initiative is expected to aid bus companies who have committed to transport health workers and other frontline medical personnel daily, as the country tried to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
“Nakakataba ng puso ‘yung tuluy-tuloy na dating ng tulong mula sa ating mga private sector partners tumulong (The continues support from our private sector partners is heartwarming). If this enhanced community quarantine will go on for more weeks, we really need the assistance of every stakeholder to sustain the program. Lubos ang aming pasasalamat sa mga mabubuting tao at kumpanya, tulad ng Petron, na laging handang tumulong (Our heartfelt gratitude goes to civic-minded people and companies, like Petron, who are always ready to help),” DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade expressed.
The DOTr has been issued 60 Petron fleet cards, which are pre-loaded with P31,500 worth of fuel each. The total amount of fuel subsidy is worth P1,890,000. Although SMC Infrastructure has allotted a total of 54,000 liters of fuel, bus companies, however, are limited to its daily allocation of 50 liters.
Four Petron stations are assigned to accommodate bus units participating in the Petron Fuel Subsidy. These Petron stations are located at Filinvest in Alabang, Macapagal Boulevard in Parañaque City, East Avenue in Quezon City, and in Mandaluyong City.
The designated gas stations were also briefed on the maximum fuel subsidy per bus unit.
“The distribution of fleet cards and the station assignment will be conducted on Sunday, April 12, 2020. Our drivers can expect that on the following day, they will have additional options to fuel up their bus units. With this, we are grateful for Petron,” DOTr Undersecretary for Administrative Affairs Artemio Tuazon said.
Meanwhile, SMC President and Chief Operating Officer Ramon S. Ang said that they will continue to support response efforts, including government initiatives, which are aimed at combatting the spread of the deadly coronavirus.
“We are amazed at how everybody is pulling together to fight this battle. For our part, we will not stop looking for opportunities to help. In times like this, we should look out for each other even more,” Ang said.
The DOTr Free Bus Service for Health Workers Program, which started on March 18, 2020, has partnered with various government agencies and private bus companies to transport frontline health workers since the start of the enhanced community quarantine, covering a total of 19 routes in Metro Manila.
Currently, other petroleum companies such as Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc., Clean Fuel, and Total Philippines, likewise, provide fuel subsidies to aid participating bus units under the free ride program.
Read more: 2 oil companies help DOTr in providing free bus service to frontliners