The Department of Energy (DOE) has cemented a partnership with mobility firm Angkas, for the latter to aid in real-time monitoring of fuel prices, so Filipino consumers can be properly apprised on the gasoline stations offering competitive prices and quality services.

In a statement to the media, Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi asserted this initiative will be “DOE’s commitment (to) ensuring the responsiveness of our liquid fuels retail market under a regime of fair prices and quality public service.”

The department added the target of this collaboration is to provide timely and accurate information to the motoring public, so they can aptly exercise their ‘power of choice’ when it comes to patronizing the industry players or brands when they fill up their vehicles.

The energy department said this undertaking will run from July 12 to November 15 this year; and it shall cover retail outlets within Metro Manila.

Beyond the tie-up between DOE and Angkas, they will also be engaging the participation of the oil companies and a separate memorandum of agreement on this is forthcoming.

The oil firms that already sounded off their support on this endeavor include Chevron Philippines, PTT, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation, PetroGazz, Phoenix Petroleum, Seaoil, Flying V and Unioil.

The DOE emphasized it developed a mobile phone platform “through which authorized Angkas riders will be able to scan DOE QR (quick response) codes to report fuel prices, as posted in a specific retail outlet;” and that shall also be complemented with assessment on the services and facilities of the specified gasoline stations.

For those monitored to be offering competitive prices and have quality services, the energy department indicated that it would be awarding “Seal of Excellence” to the retail outlets, primarily setting sharp focus on their compliance with “downstream oil industry rules and regulations, and maintain the cleanliness of their facilities.”

According to the department, the light fuel retail outlets or LFROs will be assessed on four major categories, namely: cleanliness of forecourt; cleanliness of comfort rooms; good station personnel service; and presence or availability of air and water facilities.

At this stage, a pilot test is currently being conducted in the cities of Makati and Taguig “to identify potential areas of improvement that would help ensure the efficiency of the program.”

The agency said DOE teams have already posted QR codes in strategic locations at various Makati and Taguig retail outlets for scanning and reporting of Angkas drivers.


Source: Manila Bulletin (https://mb.com.ph/2021/07/01/doe-partners-with-angkas-on-real-time-monitoring-of-oil-prices/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=doe-partners-with-angkas-on-real-time-monitoring-of-oil-prices)