By Alena Mae S. Flores

PUBLICLY listed oil company Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc. opened its 100th station in General Santos City with the country?s boxing hero Manny Pacquiao as dealer partner.

Dennis Uy, Phoenix president and chief executive, said Pacquiao?s confidence in the Phoenix brand makes him a true business partner. The station opened on Monday.

?With him and other dedicated dealer partners with us, Phoenix will continue to make ?Phoenix Fuels Life? an experience within reach of every Filipino,? Uy said in a statement.

Pacquiao said he was proud and happy to be associated with the Davao-based Phoenix.

?I was impressed with Phoenix because in just a short time, they have grown fast. As a Mindanaoan, I am proud of the successes of Phoenix which is now expanding nationwide. I am confident of the company and its future that?s why I decided to be one of their increasing business partners,? Pacquiao said.

The partnership between Phoenix and Pacquiao began in 2006 when Phoenix supported the boxer?s successful fight against Mexican Erik Morales. In December 2008, the company was again behind Pacquiao as he defeated boxing legend Oscar de la Hoya.

Aside from being a business partner of the company, Pacquiao is also the company?s endorser, along with actress Marian Rivera.

Phoenix has built 100 stations. Most are in Mindanao, while six have opened in Luzon in Marikina, Zambales, Cabanatuan, Canlubang, Cavite and Pangasinan in a span of three years.

It will finish construction of its 45-million-liter storage depot and terminal facility at the Batangas Union Industrial Park in Calaca, Batangas, this quarter.

Phoenix will also continue to pursue its expansion plans this year by investing P500 million for its retail network and the company will put up around 101 stations this year, bringing its total stations to 200.

The company will spend P2 to P2.5 million per station. The oil firm presently has a total of 91 stations, of which 80 are located in Southern Mindanao.

Phoenix is engaged in the business of trading refined petroleum products, lubricants, chemicals and an array of car care products and accessories. It also provides services such as depot operation, depot storage, logistics, into-plane and allied services.

It was listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange in July 2007, the first petroleum company to do so since the passage of 1998 Downstream Oil Deregulation Act.