SMC extends free toll, fuel subsidy for medical front liners

The San Miguel Corporation (SMC) has announced the extension of the assistance that they can provide to medical frontliners by way of free toll privileges and fuel subsidy for the medical front liners.

The free toll program for medical front liners for SMC tollways— namely STAR Tollway, South Luzon Expressway, the Skyway system, NAIA Expressway, and the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway—has reached P53.49 million worth in waived fees.

SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang gave the assurance that the initiative, which was accorded to medical frontliners since March, will continue indefinitely.

Further, almost 10,000 medical front liners availed the free toll RFID stickers, which can be used at all SMC Infrastructure-operated expressways.

“The sense of gratitude we have for the sacrifices and heroism of our medical front liners remains as deep and strong as it has ever been. They are our modern-day heroes. We’ve continued this program because we want to at least provide them some measure of relief and show them our support. We will continue to help them any way we can,” Ang said.

For the free fuel, SMC subsidiaries such as the SMC Infrastructure and Petron Corporation has also stretched the free fuel subsidy for the Libreng Sakay programs of both the Department of Transportation (DoTR) and the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) as well as the free shuttle program for medical workers.

The 3,000-liter daily subsidy for the 60 shuttle buses started since April 7, with the most-recent extension done until the end of the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) on August 18.  

“Our health workers continue to face so many challenges in the fight against Covid-19 and we in the private sector should continue helping them. As Filipinos, we can start by following the quarantine guidelines set by the government. We cannot let our guard down until we find a cure that will end this pandemic,” he said.

Aside front transport and mobility-related assistance, the SMC provided P500 million in funds for the purchase of PCR testing machines, PCR test kits, personal protective equipment (PPE), high flow nasal cannula, and swabbing booths for government and private hospitals and LGUs nationwide. 

Further, SMC also transformed its liquor manufacturing facilities to produce 1.3 million liters of ethyl alcohol worth P97.1 million given free to hospitals, vital agencies, and other institutions.

Moreover, SMC created its own COVID-19 testing center to take responsibility for regularly testing some 70,000 employees and extended workforce in its network. The facility can process up to 4,000 tests per day.

In cooperation with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, SMC also constructed 10 isolation facilities with a total 150-bed capacity near camp hospitals nationwide.

Photos from San Miguel Corporation, Petron Corporation

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