Saturday, August 05, 2006

French Envoy Lauds Firm’s Environmental and Safety Standards

By Alex P. Vidal

French Ambassador Gerard Chesnel has praised the TOTAL (Philippines) Corporation for its "commitment to environmental and safety standards as well as to excellent consumers service."
Speaking as guest in the opening of TOTAL’s first service station outside the island of Luzon in Tagbac, Jaro district, Iloilo City last July 26, Chesnel also lauded the company’s partnership with its local dealers which he said is "based on strength and mutual respect."
Chesnel’s remarks came after TOTAL (Philippines) Corporation Chairman Gary Jones, in a speech, vowed that as markets expand and become more competitive, the company "will be at the forefront of product quality and service excellence" as they continue to transfer their internal standards, "developed and refined within the highly competitive European environment to our business in the Philippines and the rest of the region."
CHALLENGES
"We are well aware of the difficulties experienced by the downstream oil industry in recent years," stressed Jones, who is also senior vice president of TOTAL Refining and Marketing Asia. "Despite these challenges, I am delighted to know that TOTAL has strengthened its position here in the Philippines and in the other markets where we are present."
Jones said the inauguration of their TOTAL Tagbac station "is a proof of our company’s continued commitment in the Philippine market. We have opened two more stations in the island of Panay—one in Cabatuan, another in San Jose, Antique—and a few others are in the pipeline."
He emphasized that they are now set to expand their network in other parts of the country, after having established two world-class fuels importation and distribution centers in Bataan and Manila and developed a retail network of over 80 service stations.
RESUMPTION OF NETWORK DEVELOPMENT
For her part, TOTAL (Philippines) Corporation President and Managing Director Anna Whitehouse said the culmination of their almost three years of work with Santos Petroleum Corporation "also signals the resumption of our network development program, coupled with innovative marketing initiatives."
Whitehouse said: "Our goal this year is to open 15 more stations nationwide and I am happy to note that we are well within our target to date. With 84 stations, I am confident that we will be able to inaugurate our 100th service station by the time we celebrate our 10th anniversary next year."
She said their expansion "is not so much a number game. Rather, it is a commitment to offer consumers a better alternative—a better choice in terms of quality products, safe and clean facilities, and efficient and friendly service."
OTHER GUESTS
Also present during the occasion were Department of Energy (DoE) Assistant Secretary Maganto Mapandi who stressed Republic Act 8479 or the downstream oil deregulation act, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, Iloilo Governor Niel D. Tupas, Sr., city councilors, University of San Agustin President Dr. Manuel Vergara and Central Philippine University President Dr. Juanito Acanto, Carmen Santos and Jose Santos of Santos Petroleum, among other guests.
With over US$80 million worth of investments in the country, the French-owned TOTAL, the fourth largest oil firm in the world, is the only international oil company to become involved in all aspects of oil distribution since the industry deregulation, with fuels, lubricants, LPG, special fluids and other products including chemicals.
Established in August 1997, TOTAL (Philippines) has increased its market share to 4% for fuels, 4% for lubricants and 8% for LPG. /MP mailto:madyaas_pen@yahoo.com

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