Two oil companies that have partnered with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) in its Free Ride Service for Health Workers Program will continue their fuel assistance for bus units participating in the program until August 18.
Cleanfuel and Petron Corporation have expressed their commitment to continue the provision of fuel subsidy to several transport vehicle units, in light of the recent declaration of the national government that enforces the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) in Metro Manila and in the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal.
With this, transport companies participating in the Free Ride Service for Health Workers Program may continue to avail of the free fuel donated by the two oil companies to help them save up on fuel expenses, while safety transporting health personnel and other medical frontline workers to their respective medical communities daily.
Cleanfuel will allocate 40-liters for 20 vehicle units daily or a total of 800-liters per day from August 4 until August 18. Its provision of free fuel commenced last April and ended on May 31.
Meanwhile, Petron Corporation has also assured of its continuous support for the Program by giving 50-liters of fuel to 60 vehicle units per day, or a total daily allocation of 3,000 liters. Petron Corporation’s fuel subsidy program was made possible through the donation of San Miguel Corporation (SMC) Infrastructure. It has been providing subsidy since April and will continue to do so until August 18.
“The fuel donations of CleanFuel and Petron Corporation will be a big help in continuing the Free Ride Service for our health workers. Nagpapasalamat kami sa suporta ng CleanFuel at Petron upang maipagpatuloy ng Kagawaran ang pagtulong sa pangangailangang pantransportasyon ng ating mga health workers, para makarating ng ligtas sa kanilang medical community. Gaya nga ng madalas mabanggit ni Secretary Tugade, ipinapakita lang ‘ho nito na sa laban sa pagsugpo sa COVID-19, kailangan ng pagkakaisa. Wala talagang iwanan,” said DOTr Undersecretary for Administrative Affairs Artemio Tuazon Jr.
Started on 18 March 2020, the DOTr’s Free Ride Service for Health Workers program, which aims to help with the transport needs of medical workers amid the coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, has already reached a total ridership of 1,426,885 nationwide as of this month. Of this number, 418,226 are from the National Capital Region, while 1,008,659 are from other regions outside Metro Manila. The Program breached the 1-million total ridership nationwide.