Vallacar Transit
Vallacar Transit Incorporated (VTI) is a transportation service under the giant umbrella of the Yanson Group of Bus Companies (YGBC). The bus company is a family-owned and managed business that has grown from a lone 14-seater jeepney plying a single route called Ceres Liner, to a conglomerate of transportation companies with a combined number of operating units of 838 transport vehicles as of January 2010, operating and serving in the Visayas, as well as the Zamboanga Peninsula in Mindanao. The company pioneered inter-modal services between Negros and Cebu.
 A Yanson FB4J bus unit of Ceres Liner, with body number 5446. | |
| Slogan | "First In Service * Foremost In Fleet Maintenance" |
|---|---|
| Parent | Yanson Group of Bus Companies |
| Founded | 1968 by Ricardo B. Yanson Sr. |
| Headquarters | Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod |
| Service area | Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Metro Manila |
| Service type | Land Transport |
| Fleet | 200+ Bus units (Hino Motors, Kinglong, Nissan Diesel, Yutong) |
| Operator | Leo Rey V. Yanson (President and CEO) |
| Website | http://vallacartransit.net/ |
History
Yanson Group of Bus Companies
These are the subsidiary companies under the parent Yanson Group of Bus Companies (YGBC) owned by the Yanson family of Negros Occidental as of 2016 operating in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao making it one of the biggest bus conglomerates in Southeast Asia:
- Subsidiaries and brands under the subsidiary
- Vallacar Transit Incorporated (VTI)
- Ceres Liner
- Ceres Tours
- Sugbo Transit
- Sugbo Tours
- Rural Transit of Mindanao Incorporated (RTMI)
- Rural Transit
- Rural Tours
- Bachelor Express Incorporated
- Bachelor Express
- Bachelor Tours
- Southern Star Bus Transit Incorporated
- Southern Star
- Ceres Transport Incorporated
- Ceres Transport
- Gold Star Bus Transit Incorporated
- Gold Star
- Mindanao Star Bus Transport Incorporated
- Island City Express
- Mindanao Star
Vallacar Transit Incorporated
Started in 1968, Vallacar Transit Incorporated is the first subsidiary of the Yanson Group of Bus Companies. It started with Ceres Liner which is named after the founder's younger sister. By 1980, Ceres Liner was covering the whole province of Negros.
The company was founded in 1968 by Ricardo B. Yanson (died October 25, 2015) and his wife, Olivia Villaflores Yanson, beginning with the purchase of one jeepney unit. This effort ultimately became a jeepney-assembly business. In the early 1970s, the market was flooded with Ford Fieras; the couple decided to diversify into a small bus line which plied the Bacolod City-Valladolid-La Carlota route (hence, ValLaCar) and christened it as the Ceres Liner.[1]
The Ceres Liner grew and expanded through the years. Their service had reached from Negros to the Visayan provinces of Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, Cebu, Bohol and Leyte, as well as Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga City in Mindanao.
In 2007, Ceres Liner's Iloilo base pioneered travel between Iloilo City and Metro Manila through the Western Nautical Highway. Proving to be profitable, Yanson Group expanded its Metro Manila operations and later established Ceres Transport in 2009.
In 2016, Ceres Liner bought around 70 bus franchises from D' Rough Riders Express. It then formed a new brand as Sugbo Transit which is named after the old name of Cebu, Sugbo. Currently, the said branding is under the management of Ceres Liner's Cebu Base.
Rural Transit of Mindanao Incorporated / Bachelor Express Incorporated
In 1981, the Yansons ventured to Mindanao. They bought out Fortune Express and Bachelor Express, both Cagayan de Oro-based bus companies in 1985, and formed Rural Transit of Mindanao. However, the formation of Rural Transit was divided from Bachelor Express when the former owners of Bachelor and Yanson Group agreed to retain the name Bachelor Express as one of the conditions of the contract of sale. Bachelor Express was then named as Bachelor Express Inc.
In 2005, they bought out Lilian Express Inc. and sister company Mary May Express, its fiercest business rival, and became the dominant transit company in the island of Mindanao. This expanded their operations to the whole Western Mindanao, making Rural Transit as the predominant transport operator in the Mindanao Region.
Ceres Transport Incorporated
In 2007, Ceres Liner's Iloilo base pioneered travel between Iloilo City and Metro Manila through the Western Nautical Highway. Proving to be profitable, Yanson Group expanded its Metro Manila operations and established Ceres Transport in 2009, being based in Batangas City. It enabled bus services encompassing Cubao, Batangas City, Mindoro, Aklan, Antique Iloilo, Bacolod and Dumaguete.
Southern Star Bus Transit Incorporated
In 2011, the conglomerate bought out St. Jude Transportation Company, a bus line based in Bohol, and renamed it Southern Star. Primarily, it was operated under the management of Vallacar Transit Incorporated. Later on, Southern Star formed its own subsidiary as Southern Star Bus Transit Incorporated.
Gold Star Bus Transit Incorporated
In 2012, Ceres Transport Inc., bought out a franchise of Gold Star Bus Company and allowed it to operate its Batangas-Cubao and Batangas-Alabang routes. Later on, Yanson Group decided to create on its own subsidiary as Gold Star Bus Transit Incorporated, making it apart from the Ceres Transport Inc.
Mindanao Star Bus Transport Incorporated
Mindanao Star started in January 2015 when Bachelor Express bought out Weena Express and sister company People's Transport Corporation. It then formed a new subsidiary as Mindanao Star Bus Transport Incorporated, making them apart from the management of Bachelor Express. It opened opportunity for Yanson Group to serve the Davao City - Cotabato City route, which they cannot penetrate for decades.
In October 2015 Mindanao Star bought Holiday Bus, the bus line of Davao Holiday Transport Services Inc., It made them to expand their operations for Davao City - General Santos City, and General Santos City - Koronadal City route.
VTI Brands
Ceres Liner was the first branding under Vallacar Transit Incorporated which was named after the youngest sister of the founder, Ricardo Yanson Sr. As their operations expanded, several brands are added with different functions and area of operations.
| Brand | Function / Description |
|---|---|
| Ceres Liner | The bus brand for ordinary fare buses of Vallacar Transit Incorporated. |
| Ceres Tours | The bus brand for air-conditioned buses of Vallacar Transit Incorporated. |
| Sugbo Transit | A newly formed bus brand under Vallacar Transit Incorporated after the sellout of D'Rough Riders Express in Cebu City. |
| Sugbo Tours | The bus brand for air-conditioned buses of Vallacar Transit Incorporated. |
| Vallacar Transit Incroporated - Transport Engineering and Bus Body Assembly Plant (VTI-TEBBAP) | The coachbuilding division of Yanson Group of Bus Companies. Although the division serves for the whole YGBC Bus Companies, the management and supervision is under the name of Vallacar Transit Incorporated |
| Ceres Pasalubong | A food stop for Vallacar Transit Incorporated and is found in all of their terminals. The management is under EY Group of Bus Companies, a sister company of Yanson Group. |
| Ceres–Negros | A football team under Vallacar Transit Incorporated |
Bases
Their subsidiaries are sub-divided by bases. These are based on their area of their operation, and their base number shall be the prefix number for their bus fleets. Yanson Group started this practice in 2005 after they bought out Lilian Express Inc., and felt that re-organizing their company is needed.
There are four bases under Vallacar Transit Incorporated:
| Prefix | Base | Address | Subsidiary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Bacolod | Masilingan, Bacolod City | Ceres Liner |
| 6 | Iloilo | Jaro, Iloilo City | Ceres Liner |
| 7 | Dumaguete | Calindagan, Dumaguete City | Ceres Liner |
| 8 | Cebu | Rizal Ave. Ext., Cebu City And Ouano Ave., Mandaue City | Ceres Liner and Sugbo Transit |
Destinations
Since the re-organization of Yanson Group of Bus Companies in 2005, Rural Transit of Mindanao is sub-divided into bases in which has different areas of service and destinations.
Bacolod Base
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The Bacolod Base is located at Masilingan, Bacolod with its terminal hub at Ceres Bus Liner North Terminal, Mandalagan, Bacolod City and at Bacolod City South Terminal, Luzuriaga St, Bacolod City. It is also the main base for Vallacar Transit Incorporated. The base is assigned as Base 5 of Yanson Group of Bus Companies. Their routes are from Bacolod City to the rest of the Negros Island Region, Cebu and Zamboanga City.
- Bacolod City - Cebu City via Escalante City/Tabuelan
- Bacolod City - Cebu City via Toledo City/Salvador Benedicto/San Carlos City
- Bacolod City - Cebu City via Kabankalan City/Mabinay
- Bacolod City - San Carlos City via Cadiz City
- Bacolod City - San Carlos City via Salvador Benedicto
- Bacolod City - Kabankalan City
- Bacolod City - Hinoba-an
- Bacolod City - Dumaguete City via Escalante City/San Carlos
- Bacolod City - Dumaguete City via Kabankalan City/Mabinay
- Bacolod City - Escalante City
- Bacolod City - Bayawan City
- Bacolod City - Isabela
- Bacolod City - Candoni
- Bacolod City - Victorias City
- Bacolod City - La Castellana
- Bacolod City - Cadiz City
- Bacolod City - Binalbagan
- Bacolod City - Sipalay City
- Bacolod City - Canlaon City via San Carlos
- Bacolod City - La Carlota City
- Bacolod City - Bago
- Bacolod City - Zamboanga City via Cadiz City/San Carlos City/Dumaguete City/Dipolog City/Ipil/Dapitan City
- Bacolod City - Zamboanga City via Kabankalan City/Mabinay/Dumaguete City/Dipolog City/Ipil/Dapitan City
- Bacolod City - Ma-ao, Bago
Iloilo Base
Iloilo Base is located at Jaro, Iloilo City with three terminal hubs at the new Ceres Terminal, Brgy. Balantang, Jaro, Iloilo City, Iloilo - Antique Bus Terminal at San Pedro St, Molo, Iloilo City and Festive Walk Transport Terminal, Iloilo Business Park, Mandurriao, Iloilo City. The base is assigned as Base 6 of Yanson Group of Bus Companies. Their routes are from the cities of Iloilo and Roxas to the rest of Western Visayas.
NORTHERN LINES: From Ceres Terminal, Jaro, Iloilo City
- Iloilo City - Barotac Viejo & V.V.
- Iloilo City - Concepcion via Sara, Ajuy & V.V.
- Iloilo City - Balasan & V.V.
- Iloilo City - Estancia via Balasan & V.V.
- Iloilo City - Carles & V.V.
CENTRAL LINES: via Passi City (From Ceres Terminal, Jaro, Iloilo City)
- Iloilo City - Passi City & V.V.
- Iloilo City - Calinog via Passi City & V.V.
- Iloilo City - Roxas City via Passi City & V.V.
- Iloilo City - Kalibo via Passi City & V.V.
- Iloilo City - Caticlan via Kalibo & V.V.
- Iloilo City - Buruanga via Kalibo & V.V.
CENTRAL LINES: From Festive Walk Transport Terminal, Iloilo Business Park, Mandurriao, Iloilo City
- Iloilo City - Kalibo International Airport
- Iloilo City - Caticlan Airport via Kalibo & V.V.
- Iloilo City - Iloilo International Airport
CENTRAL LINES: From Ungka Terminal, Pavia, Iloilo
- Iloilo City - Roxas City via Calinog, Tapaz, Dumalag & V.V.
- Iloilo City - Kalibo via Calinog, Tapaz, Jamindan & V.V.
- Iloilo City - Jamindan via Calinog, Tapaz & V.V.
- Iloilo City - Tapaz via Calinog & V.V.
ANTIQUE LINES: From San Pedro, Molo Terminal, Iloilo City
- Iloilo City - Caticlan via San Jose De Buenavista & V.V.
- Iloilo City - Kalibo via San Jose, Culasi, Pandan, Libertad & V.V.
- Iloilo City - Culasi
- Iloilo City - Pandan
- Iloilo City - Libertad
- Iloilo City - Bugasong
- Iloilo City - San Jose via Tobias Fornier/Anini-y/Casay
- Iloilo City - Dao via Anini-y
LOOP SERVICE: Plying Roxas City-Estancia & V.V.
Dumaguete Base
Dumaguete Base is located at Calindagan Road, Dumaguete City with its own terminal hub at the same location. The base is assigned as Base 7 of Yanson Group of Bus Companies. Their routes are from Dumaguete City to the rest of the Negros Island Region, Cebu and Zamboanga City.
- Dumaguete City - Cebu City via Oslob
- Dumaguete City - San Carlos City
- Dumaguete City - Bayawan City
- Dumaguete City - Hinoba-an
- Dumaguete City - Sipalay City
- Dumaguete City - Bacolod via Mabinay
- Dumaguete City - Kabankalan City via Mabinay
- Dumaguete City - Mabinay
- Dumaguete City - Ban Ban via Ayungon/Tayasan/Tambo
- Dumaguete City - Guihulngan City
- Dumaguete City - Cubao via Bacolod City/Kabankalan City/Mabinay
- Dumaguete City - Tagbilaran City via Tubigon
- Jimalalud - Bais
- Jimalalud - Canlaon City
- Dumaguete City - Escalante City
- Bayawan City - Cebu City via Dumaguete City
- Bayawan City - Mabinay via Dumaguete City
- Sipalay City - Cebu City via Dumaguete City
Cebu Base
Cebu Base is located at Rizal Ave. Ext., Cebu City and Ouano Ave., Mandaue City with three terminal hubs at Cebu North Bus Terminal at Subangdaku, Mandaue City, Cebu South Bus Terminal at N. Bacalso Avenue of Cebu City, and the Ayala Malls Central Bloc terminal located in Cebu IT Park, Cebu City. The base is assigned as Base 8 of Yanson Group of Bus Companies. Their routes are from Cebu City to the rest of Metro Cebu, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga City.
NORTHERN LINES: From Cebu North Bus Terminal, Subangdaku, Mandaue City
- Cebu City - Maya via Bagay
- Cebu City - Daanbantayan via Kawit
- Cebu City - Maya via Main line
- Cebu City - Bogo City
- Cebu City - Tacloban City via Bogo City/Palompon
- Cebu City - San Isidro via Bogo City/Palompon
- Cebu City - Hagnaya via Bogo City
- Cebu City - Hagnaya via Lugo Maravilla/Victoria/Lambusan
- Cebu City - Lambusan via Hagnaya
- Cebu City - Bantayan via Santa Fe/Hagnaya Port
- Cebu City - Tabogon via Borbon
- Cebu City - Tuburan via Lugo
SOUTHERN LINES: From Cebu South Bus Terminal, N. Bacalso Ave. Cebu City
- Cebu City - Bato via Oslob/Liloan Port (loop service)
- Cebu City - Bato via Barili (loop Service)
- Cebu City - Alcoy
- Cebu City - Carcar City
- Cebu City - Argao
- Cebu City - Moalboal
- Cebu City - Zamboanga City via Bato/Dipolog City/Dapitan City Port
- Cebu City - Bayawan City via Dumaguete City
- Cebu City - Guihulngan City
- Cebu City - Mabinay
- Cebu City - Sibonga
CENTRAL-WESTERN LINES: From Cebu South Bus Terminal, N. Bacalso Ave. Cebu City
- Cebu City - Balamban via Toledo City
- Cebu City - Toledo City
- Cebu City - Pinamungajan via Toledo City
METRO CEBU LINES:
- Carcar City - Danao City via Ayala Center Cebu/Cebu Business Park/Cebu IT Park
- Cebu South Bus Terminal - Buaya via Fuente Osmeña/SM City Cebu/Cebu North Bus Terminal/Pacific Mall/Marina Mall/MEPZ 1
- Cebu IT Park - Marigondon via SM City Cebu/Parkmall/Gaisano Mactan/MEPZ 2/Tamiya
- Cebu IT Park - Danao City via SM City Cebu/Parkmall/Pacific Mall/SM Consolacion/Liloan/Compostela
Fleet
Vallacar Transit Incorporated has several units from Chinese brand buses. Some of their fleets are also provided by their parent company's coach building division, Vallacar Transit Incorporated - Transport Engineering and Bus Body Assembly Plant (VTI-TEBBAP).
Airconditioned Units
- Yanson ViKing
- Yanson Legacy
- Yutong ZK6858H
- Yutong ZK6127HA
- Yutong ZK6127HYG
- Yutong ZK6128GE Lowfloor
- King Long XMQ6129Y5A
- King Long XMQ6129Y5
- King Long XMQ6129Y
- King Long XMQ6871CY
- King Long XMQ6125AY
- King Long XMQ6128AYW
Ordinary Fare Units
- Yanson Crius RK
- Yanson Crius FF1J
- Yanson FB4J