THE Yanson Group of Bus Companies has lauded the effort of oil company Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. on providing free fuel to its 59 bus units assigned to transport frontliners in Negros and Panay Island during this coronavirus disease (Covid) pandemic.
Its president and chief executive officer Leo Rey Yanson (LRY) said Shell is providing free fuel to their buses in Dumaguete, Iloilo, Bacolod-North and Bacolod-South Branches, all under Vallacar Transit Inc. (VTI), every week.
VTI earlier assigned 23 bus units to serve medical frontliners and other essential workers in Negros Occidental.
Of which, 21 are for Bacolod City and one each for the towns of Murcia and Valladolid.
The other 30 units are in Iloilo while the remaining eight are in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental.
The oil company started providing free fuel on Wednesday, April 1 and will continue until April 15.
Buses of the four branches can proceed to the authorized Shell stations and will be served by their forecourt attendants.
Also, drivers may avail of the free snacks in the gasoline stations.
“We thank Shell for also extending a helping hand during these trying times,” he said, adding that collaboration among stakeholders is essential in the bid to overcome this health crisis.
Shell, in a statement, thanked the bus firm for its support to the frontliners in the fight against Covid-19.
“We are hand-in-hand with the Yanson Group of Bus Companies in overcoming this trial our country is facing,” it said, urging the public to “stay safe by staying home.”
Moreover, other branches of the largest bus firm in the country catering to frontliners and essential workers include those in Central Visayas.
VTI’s Cebu South Branch assigned 10 of its bus units for the cities of Talisay and Mandaue.
The Cebu North Branch has 27 units. Of which, 15 units are intended for the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas and 12 units for Mandaue City.
The Southern Star Bus Transit Inc., its Bohol Branch, has three units.
For its branches under Rural Transit (Mindanao) Inc., the Yacapin Branch has one unit for Lanao del Norte province; Bulua Branch with two units; and Dipolog Branch with three units.
Meanwhile, branches under Bachelor Express Inc. assigned a total of seven bus units.
These include three from its Davao Branch and four from Butuan Branch intended for the use of Department of Health-Caraga.
Another six units were provided by Mindanao Star Bus Transport Inc. through its Davao Branch.
In Luzon, branches under Ceres Transport Inc. has provided 47 bus units.
These are in Batangas Branch with 17 units for the National Capitol Region Police Office, 15 units for the Metro Manila Development Authority, and 15 units for the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.
“It is our time to help others,” LRY stressed.
The Yanson matriarch Olivia V. Yanson (OVY) earlier said as a nurse by profession, she recognized the need to assist medical frontliners in delivering the necessary services needed by the public during this pandemic.
OVY also assured that the company will continue to open its doors to its stakeholders especially in the most trying times.
“This is a difficult time for our frontliners. While most people are in their homes, medical personnel are risking their lives to help end this crisis,” she added.