Photo from the website of Petron Corp.
MANILA, Philippines — Major oil firm Petron Corp. of billionaire Ramon Ang targets opening more facilities for automotive maintenance nationwide, with the company launching its biggest center in Luzon last December.
Without providing specific figures, the company said in a statement Thursday that it was “keen [on] expand[ing] its CCC (car care center) network to reach more customers” across the Philippines.
The group ended 2024 with 60 car care facilities, as it marked the launch of its biggest outlet in Pangasinan, boasting nine available service bays intended for several maintenance services.
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“We continue to make consistent progress in our commitment to provide comprehensive automotive solutions and top-notch service to Filipino motorists through the Petron Car Care Center,” said Leojun Gonzales, Petron national sales manager for lubes and greases.
“Like we’ve been doing for the past 18 years, our newest location in Urdaneta will help ensure smoother, safer and more enjoyable journeys for our customers,” Gonzales said.
In 2024, the company opened six outlets, serving the motoring public in Quezon City, Kamagong in Makati, Alaminos and Bayambang in Pangasinan, Mandurriao in Iloilo and Surigao City.
Petron, the country’s only oil refiner, supplies about 40 percent of the total fuel requirements nationwide through the refinery in Bataan.
Uncertainties
In the first nine months of 2024, the company suffered a 25-percent drop in its profit, which settled at P7.1 billion. Petron pinned the blame on the continuing uncertainty in the global oil market, mainly due to weak demand from economic powerhouse China and the impact of the ongoing war in the Middle East.
Despite the current “challenging business environment,” Petron president and CEO Ang remains optimistic about the firm’s growth prospects.
Meanwhile, Petron’s consolidated revenues hit P657.93 billion in the January to September period, a 12-percent jump from the P587.28 billion generated last year.
The improvement in the top line was buoyed by the company’s sustained volume growth since the start of 2024, which reached 104.4 million barrels from 93.6 million.