Philtranco

Philtranco
Slogan "Biyaheng Masaya, Serbisyong Subok Na!"
(lit. Happy Trip, Proven Service!)
Founded July 1, 1914 (1914-07-01)
Headquarters Iriga, Camarines Sur, Philippines
Service area Philippines
Service type Public Transport
Operator Philtranco Services Enterprises, Inc.
Website www.philtranco.net

Philtranco is a Philippine transport company in the Philippines with a reach from Luzon to Mindanao. Philtranco is also one of the largest bus company in the Philippines and the oldest bus company to exist (1914), followed by BLTBCo. (now DLTBCo), Maria De Leon Transit (1938), Farinas (1938), Victory Liner, (1945) and Philippine Rabbit (1946).[1]

History

YearRemarks
1914 July 1 when a young enterprising American serviceman Albert Louise Ammen together with another American, Max Blouse organized a small transportation company in Iriga, Camarines Sur, with an initial fleet of one (1) auto-truck. He called the company ALATCO or the A.L. Ammen Transport Co., Inc. Its first route was Iriga-Naga.

Mr. Ammen's venture into the transport business had become so successful that soon he expanded his fleet to service the other towns of Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Albay and Sorsogon. ALATCO became the principal carrier in the Bicol region, inaugurating highway travel that was to open remote villages in the Bicolandia, to the mainstream of economic and social development.

1942 World War II aborted expansion of the transport company. When it resumed operations in 1945 with surplus US Navy trucks bought from the United States Commercial Company, the company was faced with ruinous competition and beset with problems of maintaining its efficiency and safety as a result of her expanded size and nature of operations.
1949 The Heirs of Don Nicasio Tuazon of Manila took over ownership of ALATCO, and, with infusion of new capital, embarked on an ambitious program of expansion and rehabilitation. One important development at this time was the company's "dieselization" Program that converted its gas-powered trucks to diesel.
1952 ALATCO operated four hundred (400) units in its fleet, and it centered its fleet in Iriga. It also maintained subsidiary shops in Daet and Labo, Camarines Norte; Naga City, Camarines Sur; Ligao, Tabaco, and Legaspi in Albay; and Sorsogon and Irosin in Sorsogon.
1953 ALATCO ventured to Quezon province by consolidating into local and express bus operations from three small bus companies servicing the area. It operated under the umbrella of the Eastern Tayabas Bus Co. (ETBCO) headed by Mr. Ramón Soler. EBTCO later entered into a 5-year lease contract with the Laguna Tayabas Bus Company (LTBCO).
1971 ALATCO and ETBCO were sold to the Mantrade Group of the Lopas and Cojuangcos that formally amalgamated the operations of the two firms into one company. It was named the Pantranco South Express, Inc. (PSEI) to differentiate it from its northern counterpart, the Philippine Rabbit.
1973 Compounded by global crises and steep escalation of fuel costs, PSEI nearly collapsed. The new owners (the Mantrade Group of the Manuel Lopa and Jose Cojuangco families) insisted on providing the service even during floods, road interruptions and bad road conditions. Debt-strapped and traumatized by high operation costs, the company's creditors decided to take over the organization.
1974 The Creditors Syndicate of PSEI decided to develop and implement a Corporate Rehabilitation Program. The same year, the Company added Catanduanes, Samar and Masbate to its scope of operations, having formalized tie-ups with passenger ferry operators in these areas.
1978 PSEI introduced its air-conditioned coaches in its southern route.
1980 The Company expanded its freight service operations and moved its central offices and terminal at its present site in Pasay City.
1981 The Company pioneered in Eastern Visayas and by year-end had connected all of Leyte and Samar provinces to the Luzon mainstream. PSEI also entered the sea transport business with its passenger and vehicle ferry, linking the ports of Matnog, Sorsogon and Allen, Northern Samar.
1982 A new level of service was inaugurated with the addition of Royal Class and new air-conditioned coaches with toilets and VCR's in the company's fleet. PSEI also became the first bus company in the Philippines to computerize its operations.
1984 PSEI, together with two other ferryboat operators, formed a joint venture company, the St. Bernard Services Corporation (SBTC) that now operates in the San Bernardino Strait, with the government ferry boat, Maharlika I. In the same year, the company changed its name to Philtranco Service Enterprises, Incorporated.
1986 Commemorated the first Luzon-Visayas-Mindanao (LUZVIMINDA) run that became the first trans-Philippine bus-cum-ferry-operation. Now PSEI has seven ferryboat operations crossing Matnog and Allen, and Liloan, Southern Leyte and Surigao City, Surigao del Norte. Having opened the southern frontiers of Mindanao to Luzon and Visayas with its inter-modal transport service, Philtranco hopes to contribute its share in effecting the real unification of the nation where the economic, educational, cultural, political and social opportunities are shared by every Filipino.
1999 April 1999 when Penta Pacific Realty Corporation acquired PSEI headed by businessman Jose C.H. Alvarez. This new group immediately programmed a fleet replacement of 80 units costing PHP250 million.
2000 June 2000 when The 29-seater Gold Service Bus was introduced, initially serving key cities in the Bicol region, with a coach stewardess as additional crew to assist passengers, giving the same service as that of an airline.
2001 June 1 when PSEI implemented the Passenger Check-in and Baggage Tag System procedures for the security, convenience and comfort of our riding public. PSEI is the first bus company in the country to adopt this system patterned after the airline system. Today, Philtranco is a symbol of progress in the Philippine transport industry. The Company continues to blaze new trails with the innovations in its levels and brands of services.
2004 Philtranco, the country's lone integrated land and sea transport company, is embarking on a PHP4 billion (US$75 million) investment program over a five-year period to acquire new fleet of buses and ferry boats, and improve and expand its terminals. Philtranco CEO Jose E.B. Antonio said the expansion is in response to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's push to modernize the country's land and sea transport service of goods and passengers through five major islands—Luzon, Mindoro, Panay, Negros and Mindanao.
2007 In promoting the Clark International Airport, Pampanga, as an alternate to its counterpart in Manila, Ninoy Aquino International Airport - Philtranco offers a hassle-free daily Manila-Clark-Manila trip schedule.
2010 Philtranco Released its new type of Deluxe Service called Piltranco Airbus 380, the newest addition of Executive Class fleet of Philtranco. 26 fully reclined seats with leg rest in 2x1 arrangement, 2 Flatscreen TVs (Front and Center) equipped with stereo surround sound and DVD, and On- Board Comfort Room. Daily non- stop trips to Naga and Legaspi from Pasay/ Cubao/ Alabang and Turbina. Feels like boarding on a first class Airbus 380. Only at Philtranco.
2014 When the LTFRB in 2014, mandated that all PUBs that are 15 years of age shall be phased out imposing heavy penalties for violations, Philtranco phased out its MAN Modulos and SR Exfohs acquired and rehabbed in the late 1990's and early 2000's, replacing them with SR UD Trucks PKBs, Daewoo BF106's and BS106's, and Penta Moduliners (SR Moduliner + SR Cityliner), and has restored much of its old fleets in time for its centennial anniversary.
2016 Archipelago Philippine Ferries Corporation along with Philtranco and its affiliate, Jam Liner joined as one for their modernization program which aims to link their service from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Accordingly, they're aiming to have at least 1000 fleets.[2][3]

Fleet

A Philtranco buses in Manila

Philtranco utilizes buses that are made from a local coach builder, Santarosa Motorworks Philippines. They have about 500 buses along with their affiliate bus companies:

Destinations

A Philtranco bus heading to Buhi.

These are their destinations as of 2016[4]

Metro Manila

Provincial Destinations

Terminals

Subsidiaries

An Amihan bus heading to Bulan, Sorsogon.

Current Philtranco's subsidiaries:

Museum

The Philtranco Museum which was used to be their headquarters during the ALATCO days.

A museum in Iriga City which was once the headquarters of Philtanco houses the artifacts of the company.[10] Converted in September 10, 2000, the museum serves as a gift of Philtranco to the millions of Filipinos who have patronized their company up until today.[11]

At its inaguration, Tourism Secretary Gemma Cruz-Araneta cut the ceremonial ribbon, assisted by Philtranco president Alejandro Yaque Jr., Iriga City Vice-Mayor Rosiller Orolfo and Regional Tourism Director Maria Ravanilla. Following the official opening, invited guests composed of retired Philtranco employees and their families, and members of the national trimedia were treated to cocktails and first glimpse of the museum.

The National Historical Institute (NHI) designated the structure as a national historical site.

Alliance

Jam Group of Bus Companies and Archipelago Philippine Ferries Corporation are Philtranco's allied company under Jose Alvarez-led Panta Pacific Realty Corporation. In 2016, the alliance unveil their modernization program to link the nation by establishing flutes from Luzon to Mindanao.[2][12]

External links

References

  1. ↑ "BUS ROUTES - LUZON, VISAYAS, MINDANAO". www.phbus.com. Retrieved 2016-11-18.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Filsec - Filipino Ship Enthusiast Coalition - There's a lot of surprises that Fast Cat...". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2016-11-18.
  3. ↑ "Couple has more modern ships than Philippine Navy". The Standard. Retrieved 2016-11-20.
  4. ↑ "Services | Philtranco". philtranco.net. Retrieved 2016-11-18.
  5. ↑ "PhilKargo | Philtranco". philtranco.net. Retrieved 2016-11-20.
  6. ↑ "Philkargo « HEY COMPANIES". companies.heyplaces.ph. Retrieved 2016-11-20.
  7. ↑ "Quick Reliable Services | Philtranco". philtranco.net. Retrieved 2016-11-20.
  8. ↑ "Kabayan Hotel | Philtranco". philtranco.net. Retrieved 2016-11-20.
  9. ↑ "Philtranco now partners with Kabayan Hotel | Philtranco". philtranco.net. Retrieved 2016-11-20.
  10. ↑ "The Philtranco Heritage Museum for the Oldest Transportation Company". Vigattin Tourism (ARTICLES) - Philippines. Retrieved 2016-11-18.
  11. ↑ "More Noteworthy Events". jo.ramos.tripod.com. Retrieved 2016-11-18.
  12. ↑ "Couple has more modern ships than Philippine Navy". The Standard. Retrieved 2016-11-20.
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