Petron Pours More on Free Ride Service for Health Workers Program

The oil company under San Miguel Corporation continues to pour more help for medical frontliners. 

Ramon Ang's Petron Corporation has extended its fuel subsidy assistance in the Free Ride Service for Health Workers Program until May 15.

The move to help the Department of Transportation (DOTr) initiative came after the government extended the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the entire Luzon and other “high risk” areas in the country.

Since April 13, Petron has been providing free fuel for the program to transport frontline health workers to hospitals and medical communities daily as the country continues its fight to contain the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

The extension of the fuel subsidy was made possible through the donation of San Miguel Corporation (SMC) Infrastructure. 

Some 50 liters of fuel will be given to 60 vehicle units daily—a total daily allocation of 3,000 liters.

Four Petron stations (4) are assigned to accommodate participating private bus units. These Petron stations are located at Filinvest in Alabang, Macapagal Boulevard in Parañaque City, East Avenue in Quezon City, and in Mandaluyong City.

“It is a welcome development that our oil company partners are extending their fuel subsidies for the Free Ride Service for Health Workers. Secretary Tugade, and the whole of DOTr, are grateful for Petron’s generosity. This help will go a long way especially now that the ECQ will go on until May 15,” DOTr Undersecretary for Administrative Affairs Artemio Tuazon Jr. said.

The DOTr Free Bus Service for Health Workers Program, which started on March 18, has partnered with various government agencies and private bus companies to transport frontline health workers since the start of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

Aside from Petron, the DOTr has also partnered with other oil firms such as Cleanfuel and Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc., which have also extended their respective fuel subsidy assistance programs for the DOTr Free Bus Service for Health Workers Program until May 15. 

Currently, the program has recorded a total of 429,927 ridership as of April 26.

Prior to the extension of ECQ, Malacañang initially set to end the lockdown this coming month-end (April 30). 

Also read:

Phoenix, Cleanfuel Extend Assistance for Fuel Subsidy until May 15

Petron Assures Steady Fuel Supply Amid Covid-19 Pandemic