(Taguig City) The Department of Energy (DOE) announces the completion of reloading of the first set of beneficiaries under the "Pantawid Pasada Program."  According to DOE Secretary Rene Almendras, jeepneys with Pantawid Pasada cards claimed before December 31, 2011 and have been loaded with the initial amount of P1,050.00 within the same timeframe, can now enjoy the P1,200.00 reload using their Pantawid Pasada cards.

The DOE Secretary also made mention that announcements will be made each time the  reloading of all cards with specified plate number is completed   at the bank’s end to reduce or downright eliminate confusion in using the cards’ load.  

The Energy Department has also appealed for the beneficiaries to be patient since the amount of P1,200 cannot be loaded all at the same time.  “We would like the drivers all over the country to immediately enjoy the load, as promised by our President, hence the process that we have employed.  We also do not want them to be hassled by going to and from gas stations only to discover the cards are empty, so to speak. That is a valid concern of our drivers,” Secretary Almendras added.

The DOE said that it will follow the plate number sequence in its reloading.  Since reloading has been done for 0, it will then be followed by 1, until 9.  

The Pantawid Pasada Program, which started in May 2011, is an interim measure of the government to cushion the impact of high fuel prices, particularly to the public utility jeepneys. The reloading is a response to the unabated fuel price hikes stemming from the continued tensions in the Middle East, coupled with increasing demand of major oil consuming countries.  

For more information on the distribution and the Pantawid Pasada Program, interested parties may call the contact numbers at the back of the card:     (02) 840-22-67 and 0917 556-0759 or they may call the DOE Trunkline 479-2900 local 329.