CONQUERING COVID-19: Seaoil gives fuel discounts to frontliners

MANILA, Philippines – An oil company in the Philippines has announced discounts in its fuel products for frontline workers engaged in the fight against COVID-19.

Seaoil said in a statement that discounts worth P5.00 for gasoline products and P3.00 for diesel fuel would be made available in select stations across the country.  According to the company, it has already allocated P10 million in free fuel and discounts “to support the frontliners from hospitals, LGUs and transport groups”.

Among those who would be eligible for the discount are medical professionals, technicians, hospital and clinic staff, uniformed personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP), Coast Guard officers, local government officials, and health and quarantine enforcers.

“Seaoil is committed to helping our frontliners #ConquerCOVID19. We have utilized our resources to help our employees and the community,” company chief executive officer Glenn Yu said in a statement on Monday.

“Keeping our stations open where possible, is one way to ensure our frontliners get to where they are needed,” he added.

Drivers of vehicles who wish to use the discount would just need to present a valid identification card that would verify their profession.  However, properly marked vehicles like ambulances and military and police vehicles do not need to present identification cards anymore.

“Vehicles that are properly marked such as ambulances, military and police vehicles used for COVID mobilization efforts also qualify even with the absence of a frontliner,” Seaoil said.

Seaoil also assured that select stations would continue to operate and that their service crews would be properly equipped with personnel protection equipment to ensure their health and safety.

“Selected stations now continue to stay open where possible, allowing customers to still get their fuel and lube requirements without hassle. Service crew are equipped with proper safety gear, hygiene kits and protocols to ensure their health and safety while on duty,” the company said.

“To further help, SEAOIL is also providing free fuel assistance to partner hospitals nationwide, logistics groups including GrabBayanihan, and Ube Express, the free shuttle service of Kaya Natin, among others.  For those who may require fuel assistance or would like to contribute to these efforts, you may send your contact details to [email protected].,” they added.

As of Monday, the whole of Luzon is currently placed under an enhanced community quarantine due to the rising COVID-19 cases, meaning that only frontline service operators like healthcare workers and service crew members are allowed to go out to work.

The Department of Health on Monday reported that COVID-19 cases in the Philippines went up to 462, 33 of which have already died while at least 18 have recovered.

READ: Luzon now under ‘enhanced community quarantine’ – Palace

READ: BREAKING: DOH: 462 people now infected with COVID-19 in PH

The COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus that first emerged in China’s city of Wuhan in Hubei province in late 2019.

The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses named the novel coronavirus as SARS-CoV-2.

Coronavirus is a family of viruses, whose surfaces have a crown-like appearance. The viruses are named for the spikes on their surfaces.  Worldwide, over 334,000 COVID-19 cases have been recorded, while 14,608 patients have died.  On the other hand, another 96,243 patients have recovered.