As the Philippines enters its fourth week in the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) and with the recent announcement of its extension until April 30, front liners are racing against time to stop the spread of COVID-19 and flatten the curve. Here in Mindanao, with the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases climbing over a hundred, Pilipinas Shell has expanded its efforts in the Mindanao region to improve public transportation and aid frontliners in their fight against a potentially severe outbreak.
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| Frontliners get fuel discounts when they gas up at Shell |
PARA SA BAYAN project amid pandemic
Free fuel has been provided to two partner hospitals, Davao Doctors Hospital in Davao and Polymedic Plaza in Cagayan de Oro.
“The health and safety of our people, our customers, and the community are most important to us, and we continue to monitor the situation closely so we can respond to the needs of our kababayans,” said Pilipinas Shell’s CEO and Country Chairman Cesar Romero.
“As everyone plays their part in this fight against this pandemic, patuloy ninyong kasama ang Shell sa bawat biyahe ng buhay.”
After identifying a mobility challenge in the area, Pilipinas Shell offered the fuel subsidy to its partners in order to aid the transportation of frontliners, the mobilization of ambulances, and other ongoing relief efforts.
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| An ambulance gassing up at a Shell station |
Shell’s gas stations have also starting donating water and food packs to nearby hospitals and frontliners from their Select convenience stores. One site in Davao has even set itself up as a donation hub where people can leave donations such as PPEs and food packs to be picked up by the Davao Task Force and delivered to hospitals.
Other stations have also started making face shields for frontliners and have donated them to Socomedics Hospital in Koronadal City as well as various checkpoints throughout Iligan City.
As of the moment, there are also 61 Shell retail gas stations in Mindanao who are offering discounts on gasoline and diesel products not only for frontliners, but for everyone making their journey on the road.
In an effort to help decongest traffic in supermarkets, Select stores have updated their product offerings to provide basic needs to the public so they can continue to purchase crucial supplies while still maintaining appropriate social distancing.
Various retailer partners have also stepped up to provide additional support by offering free coffee, face masks, and snacks at their stations.
For 106 years, Shell as remained committed to be the country’s partner in nation-building. During this trying time, the company has made the Philippines’ mobility, health and safety, and energy security its top priorities. It aims to help the nation weather today’s COVID-19 situation so it can be ready to progress again tomorrow.
