Del Monte Land Transport Bus Company ( DLTBCo) is a provincial bus company formed as a subsidiary of Del Monte Motor Works, Incorporated. It was formed as a resurgent of Batangas Laguna Tayabas Bus Company Incorporated ( BLTBCo.), one of the oldest provincial bus companies in the Philippines. It plies routes mainly to Southern Luzon provinces and other parts in Eastern Visayas region.
DLTBCo. was founded in 2009 when BLTBCo. was taken over by DMMW and later added to its investment, although one must take note that DLTBCo. and BLTBCo. are different companies from each other, but their similarity is its routes that the latter have. It was because the former has announced its restoration of the old routes made by the latter after the firm's take over. BLTBCo., on the other hand, was founded in 1918 shortly before the end of World War I. Thus, DLTBCo is one of the nation's oldest bus firms if the BTLBCo history and timeline are included.
Etymology
The company was derived from the union of two small bus companies—BTCo. and LTB. BTCo. stands for
Batangas Transportation Company, while LTB stands for Laguna Tayabas Bus Company. The union was made by Max Blouse, an American seargeant who fought in the Spanish–American War in 1898. After the war, he decided to stay in the
Philippines.
History
1918
It was in 1918 when Max Blouse began his business ventures and he founded the
Batangas Transportation Company (BTCo). Starting with only one "calesa-like tires with wooden spokes" bus, Max Blouse performed the multiple tasks of being the driver, conductor and repairman for the whole operation. He eventually acquired 17 more units of the passenger vehicles painted in red that people fondly called "pula" - the basis of today's DLTBCo bus livery.
1928
As a result of the thriving operation in the transportation business, Max Blouse in 1928 incorporated BTCo with his newly established bus company dubbed as
Laguna Tayabas Bus Company (LTB), concentrating in the area of Laguna and
Quezon Province. The two enterprises he had installed apportioned a conspicuous achievement until the disruption of the Second World War.
The remnants of the war resulted to an intense damage and decline of the company's business activities. All operations were closed, records were destroyed and most of the company-owned buildings were ravaged by the war. In spite of the miscarriage during those times, Max Blouse never lost his forbearance and intensified his effort to raise back the company's destroyed properties.
1945
Under a "Joint Emergency Operations" agreement on May 22, 1945, the two corporations proceeded its operation with 28
Chevrolet buses which Max Blouse acquired from the US army. Again, through his diligence and high-spirited deeds, he enabled a spectacular stride by bringing back the prosperity that the company savored prior to the war. The pressing demand for public transportation also moved him to respond immediately by providing the people's need to commute from one place to another as the country suffered from the debris of the war.
1961–1964
The death of Max Blouse on December 28, 1961 posted a challenge to Col. Pelagio G. Potenciano, a doctor by profession, who took the place of his father-in-law's designation as president. Albeit the fact the Colonel Potenciano did not have enough skills on the transportation business, he was bale to manage the two corporations well through his dedication and industry. It was during his administration where the BTCo and LTB finally merged into one company and was approved by the company's stockholder in 1964, thus, creating a new name termed as the
Batangas Laguna Tayabas Bus Company (BLTBCo).
1977–1988
Colonel Potenciano's son Max, nicknamed "Sonny", became the president from 1977 up to 1988. Just like his grandfather and that of his dad, strong determination, and the will to succeed had inspired him to propel all the accomplishments into the limelight. With the full support of his loving wife Dolly Alonso and four sons namely Joey, Binky, Mike and Snooky the company realized its targets and was able to cope with the stiff competition in the transportation business.
In 1988, a new formula was instilled into the company's management milieu by a new woman president in the person of Dolores Alonso Potenciano, wife of Max B. Potenciano. When she took her position as president, re-structuring was adopted by modifying BLTBCo. into a multi-million enterprise having an all-Philippines management. (The company was originally in partnership by Max Blouse and his American associates).
During the course of her supervision as president, Mrs. Potenciano adapted a lot of changes and development in the whole operation. Her good dispositions and adeptness in yielding ingenious ideas propped up growth and changes in the entire company.
1997–2009
BLTBCo was under the management of its new chairman and chief executive officer Benjamin M. Bitanga, a business associate of the company. Taking over as president less than a year before, under Bitanga the company continued servicing the people from the southern part of
Luzon and areas within the provinces of
Samar and
Leyte.
However, in 2001, Potenciano family had their political ambitions in Laguna. With them spending much on it. They lost the elections. The company's problem continued with series of lawsuits from their employees due to unfair labor practice and violation of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA). It was also the time when Bitanga and Potenciano clans had disputes over the management of the company.
In 2003, a fire erupted at Malibay that reached over their bus terminal. The fire destroyed many of their bus fleets including their repair garage.
2009–present
In 2009, after the suspended operations and renovation for five years, Del Monte Motor Works (DMMW), a bus and truck manufacturer based in Quezon City took over the management of BLTBCo. They renamed the company as
Del Monte Land Transport Bus Company (DLTBCo), and continues routes to Metro Manila via Laguna,
Quezon,
Batangas,
Camarines Sur,
Camarines Norte and
Albay.
In 2010, DLTBCo resumed trips to Eastern Visayas, primarily in Northern Samar, Samar, Leyte and Southern Leyte. With the help of the new management, they provided new bus units for the company and offers new services such as free Wi-Fi and their "Greyhound Express Service".
Issues and criticisms
The issue on labor union in BLTBCo has caused up to pay for its damages filed by their employees. In 1973, during Martial Law, a group of private respondents, totaling 34 employees, led by bus conductors Librado Aquino and Eufemio Bondad, demanded the company for back wages and separation pay. These employees were detained by the military due to alleged involvement in the defraudation of the fund of the company. The management also refused to give them back pay. In the decision by the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC), favoring the decision to the complainants, the management forced to give separation pay to the employees.
Consecutive strikes led by labor union leaders of the company were able to file cases against the management due to unfair labor practice and violation of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA). BLTBCo management forced to pay those employees who led the strike in two consecutive years.
The bankruptcy of BLTBCo was caused by the involvement of one member of Potenciano family to run for governor in Laguna, but failed to win in the 2001 local elections. This time, the labor union filed a class suit against the management. By then, BLTBCo has again, a troubled history when the Potenciano clan strongly refused to give up the bus company to its investors. As a result, the company was totally crippled by financial losses and mismanagement for six years. The Bitanga and Potenciano clans have disputes on the management of the company.
Fleet
BLTB Co has maintained MAN,
Hino Motors, UD Nissan Diesel,
Mercedes-Benz,
Isuzu, and Mitsubishi Fuso units from the time of re-fleeting between 1988 and 2001. All of its buses were already defunct, while others were destroyed in a 2003 fire in Malibay.
When Del Monte Motor Works, Inc. took over the management in 2009, their coachbuilding division provided additional bus units. With those units manufactured by Del Monte such as the DM10, DM11, DM12, and DM14s, the company has maintained most of the old routes and presently they have Ashok Leyland, Hino Motors, Hyundai Group, MAN, Kia Granbird, King Long and Yutong units.
Here are their fleets as of May 2023:
| +
! colspan="4" | Coaches locally built by Del Monte Motor Works, Inc |
|
| DMMC DM10 | Hino Motors RK1J-ST | | ongoing rebodied into DM16 S2 |
| DMMC DM10 | Hino RK1J-MT | 500 | ongoing rebodied into DM16 S2 |
| DMMC DM10 | Hyundai Aero | 200 series | ongoing rebodied into DM16 S2 |
| DMMC DM11 | Hino Motors RK1J-ST | | |
| DMMC DM11 | Hino RK1J-MT | | |
| DMMC DM11 | Hyundai Aero | 200, 900 | 900 series for Ordinary fleets |
| DMMC DM12 Series 1 | Hino RK1J-ST | | |
| DMMC DM12 Series 1 | Hino RM2P-SS | | |
| DMMC DM12 Series 1 | Hyundai Aero Space LS | | |
| DMMC DM12 Series 1 | MAN R39 18.350 HOCL | 1100 | some rebodied to DM18 Series 1 |
| DMMC DM12 Series 2 | Hyundai Aero Space LS | | |
| DMMC DM14 Series 1 | MAN R39 18.350 HOCL | | |
| DMMW DM14 Series 2 | Hino RK1J-ST | 2100, 5100 | |
| DMMW DM14 Series 2 | Hyundai Aero Space LS | 2100, 5100 | |
| DMMW DM16 Series 2 | Hino RK1J-ST | | rebodied fleet |
| DMMW DM16 Series 2 | Hino RM2P-SS | | rebodied fleet |
| DMMW DM16 Series 2 | Hyundai Aero Space LS | | rebodied fleet |
| DMMW DM16 Series 2 | Volvo B8R | 1700 | |
| DMMW DM18 Series 1 | MAN R39 18.350 HOCL | | rebodied fleet |
Former Fleet
-
Ashok Leyland Viking BS3 (600 series, 2013–2019)
-
Hyundai Aero Space LS (300 series, Korean Surplus, 2010–2015)
-
Kia Granbird (400 series, Korean Surplus, 2010–2015)
Terminals
-
Taft Avenue, Pasay
-
EDSA, Pasay
-
EDSA Cubao, Quezon City
-
Araneta City Bus Port, Cubao, Quezon City
-
EDSA Timog, Quezon City
-
Pedro Guevarra Avenue, Santa Cruz, Laguna
-
Santa Rosa Integrated Terminal, Santa Rosa, Laguna in front of SM City Santa Rosa
-
Calaca-Lemery Highway, Lemery, Batangas
-
J.P. Laurel Highway, SM City Lipa Grand Terminal, Lipa, Batangas
-
J.P. Laurel Street, Nasugbu, Batangas
-
Talipan, Pagbilao, Quezon
-
Maharlika Highway, Daet, Camarines Norte
-
Legazpi City Grand Terminal, Legazpi Port District, Legazpi, Albay
-
Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange, Parañaque
-
Luisiana Park, Luisiana, Laguna
-
Lucban Plaza, Lucban, Quezon
-
Sampaloc Street, Sampaloc, Quezon
Destinations
Metro Manila
Provincial Destinations
-
Batangas City*
-
Calatagan, Batangas*
-
Lemery, Batangas*
-
Lipa, Batangas***
-
Tanauan, Batangas
-
Nasugbu, Batangas*
-
Tagaytay City, Cavite
-
Turbina/Real, Calamba, Laguna
-
Santa Cruz, Laguna*
-
Lucena, Quezon*
-
Santa Elena, Camarines Norte
-
Labo, Camarines Norte
-
Talisay, Camarines Norte (pass through via Daet)
-
Daet, Camarines Norte*
-
Buhi, Camarines Sur*
-
Lagonoy, Camarines Sur*
-
San Fernando, Camarines Sur
-
Baao, Camarines Sur
-
Pili, Camarines Sur
-
Nabua, Camarines Sur
-
Naga, Camarines Sur*
-
Iriga, Camarines Sur*
-
Ragay, Camarines Sur
-
Del Gallego, Camarines Sur
-
Sipocot, Camarines Sur
-
Lupi, Camarines Sur
-
Libmanan, Camarines Sur
-
Camalig, Albay (pass through via Daraga/Legazpi)
-
Guinobatan, Albay
-
Ligao City, Albay
-
Daraga, Albay
-
Legazpi, Albay*
-
Tabaco, Albay*
-
Polangui, Albay
-
Libon, Albay
-
Sorsogon City, Sorsogon
-
Bulan, Sorsogon*
-
Gubat, Sorsogon*
-
Irosin, Sorsogon*
-
Matnog, Sorsogon
-
Santa Magdalena, Sorsogon (via Matnog)
-
Rawis, Laoang, Northern Samar
-
Catbalogan, Samar
-
San Jorge, Samar
-
Borongan, Eastern Samar
-
Guiuan, Eastern Samar
-
Tacloban, Leyte
-
Baybay, Leyte
-
Palompon, Leyte
-
Ormoc, Leyte*
-
Liloan, Southern Leyte
-
Maasin, Southern Leyte*
-
Silago, Southern Leyte
-
San Ricardo, Southern Leyte
* denotes that DLTBCo. has restored most of its old routes same as that of BLTBCo
** denotes that available only Bicol & Visayas trips.
*** denotes the present routes of DLTBCo. which are not part of BLTBCo. or somehow
**** denotes that available only Cavite & Western Batangas trips
Former destinations
-
Araneta City Bus Port, Cubao, Quezon City
-
Santa Rosa Integrated Terminal, Santa Rosa, Laguna
-
Mabitac Market Parking Lot, Mabitac, Laguna
-
Naval, Biliran
See also
-
List of bus companies of the Philippines
