MANILA — The Department of Energy (DOE) on Wednesday lauded oil company Pilipinas Shell for implementing an additional discount of PHP0.25 per liter of diesel for public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers on top of the PHP1 per liter it has granted since March this year.
Last March, Shell was among the three oil firms that signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the DOE, to give a discount of PHP1 per liter of liquid to PUVs.
Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said the agency had requested oil firms to provide fuel discounts to PUVs as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs.
During the MOA signing, Cusi explained that the PHP1 per liter discount would help lessen the impact of oil price increases on the PUVs.
The energy department chief expressed his hope that by providing discount to PUVs, there would be no need for the bus and jeepney operators to ask for a fare hike.
Shell Media Relations and Brand Manager Cesar Abaricia told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) that the additional discount of PHP0.25 per liter of diesel started last August 25.
This is applicable to all participating Shell retail stations nationwide, he said.
“We are giving the additional discount to help the jeepney drivers who are using diesel. This (initiative) is also in line with the DOE’s push for the usage of Euro 2 diesel,” he added.
The DOE has been advocating the selling of Euro 2 diesel “as an option for oil companies.”
DOE spokesperson Felix William Fuentebella earlier said that having Euro 2 diesel as an option aims to enhance the competition, and also to offer more choices for the consumers. (Ma. Cristina Arayata/PNA)
