MANILA, Philippines — Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc. has launched a contactless payment scheme in its gas stations to ensure safer transactions amid concerns over possible transmission of coronavirus through paper bills and coins.
The oil firm said a total of 100 Phoenix gas stations all over Luzon now allow payment via Alipay, GCash, GrabPay, and WeChat Pay through QR code scanning.
The move came as part of the company’s tightened safety protocols across its businesses to help stop the pandemic.
It claimed that it is the first to offer four e-payment options in the oil industry in the country.
Phoenix Petroleum president and chief operating officer Henry Albery Fadullon said the scheme is part of the company’s efforts to provide safe and secure service.
“While we continue to provide quality products to our customers, we are also very serious in our rally towards stopping the spread of COVID-19. We already made most of our employees work from home to avoid exposure to the virus. This time, we want to further ensure the safety of our customers by offering contactless transactions that could help flatten the curve,” he said.
The company is also set to implement this new method of payment at its stations in Visayas and Mindanao this month.
As of the end of March, Phoenix Petroleum had a total of 660 stations nationwide.
Phoenix introduced its own fuel delivery service for small and medium businesses to provide a more convenient option to those in need of quality fuel supply.
The company is also currently offering Bangon Tsuper, a special rewards program for public utility drivers who need assistance, while waiting for the eventual return of mass transportation.
Phoenix Petroleum registered a net loss of P215 million in the first quarter, down from P415 million a year ago due to volatile global oil prices and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, it sees better numbers in the second quarter due to positive results in April and May, driven by its retail and liquified petroleum gas (LPG) businesses.