Ceres Liner

Vallacar Transit Incorporated (VTI) is a Philippine transportation service under the umbrella of the Yanson Group of Bus Companies (YGBC), serving as its flagship subsidiary.

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.

History

Dr. Ricardo Y. Yanson Sr. had a 14-seater jeepney that plied the routes in Bacolod and nearby towns in 1968.

Ricardo was fond of experimenting with motor vehicles and had a penchant for automotive body works. He tried his hands and skills in assembling more jeepneys while his wife Olivia managed the warehouse and served as the collector of the daily “boundaries” from their drivers.

Olivia quit her nursing job at a rural health unit in Dumaguete to help her husband run the small business as ‘bodegera’ by day and ‘collector’ at night.

Vallacar was originally owned by the family of Ricardo. However, Vallacar grew because Ricardo was active then, buying second-hand trucks from Manila and rebuilding them as transport units for VTI.

In the 1970s, the Yanson couple diversified into a small bus line which plied the Bacolod-Valladolid-La Carlota route or Val-La-Car for short. It was named Ceres Liner, after Ricardo's younger sister.

Ricardo died at the age of 86, and left the leadership and management of Vallacar Transit, Incorporated and its conglomerate to his son, Leo Rey Yanson, with the guidance of his wife Olivia.

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. The said branding is under the management of Ceres Liner's Cebu Base, but was discontinued in 2024.

On December 5, 2020, Vallacar Transit Inc. (VTI) reappoints Leo Rey Yanson as the chairman of the board and president during their firm's annual stockholders meeting at its principal office in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod. During their meeting, it was released that Olivia V. Yanson, Leo Rey V. Yanson, Ginnette Y. Dumancas, Charles M. Dumancas, Anita G. Chua, Arvin John V. Villaruel and Daniel Nicolas Golez were re-elected as members of VTI's board of directors.

A trail-blazer and visionary, self-made transportation tycoon Ricardo and his wife Olivia built an empire from one vehicle to a conglomerate of bus companies and the largest in the Philippines.

Under Leo Rey Yanson's leadership

Vallacar Transit Inc. (VTI), the country's largest bus company, recently held its annual stockholders meeting at its principal office in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod. In the meeting, VTI disclosed that those reelected as members of its board of directors included Olivia V. Yanson, Leo Rey V. Yanson, Ginnette Y. Dumancas, Charles M. Dumancas, Anita G. Chua, Arvin John V. Villaruel and Daniel Nicolas Golez.

Following the election of directors, the board held an organizational meeting where Leo Rey Yanson was reappointed as chairman of the board and president of VTI, while VTI co-founder Olivia V. Yanson was reappointed as corporate secretary and treasurer.

With firm grip of control to the family's Bus Conglomerate, Leo Rey Yanson, as president and chief executive officer of both Vallacar Transit Inc. (VTI) and Ceres Liner Travel and Tours Inc. (CLTTI), gave the assurance in a statement on Tuesday after presiding the latter's annual stockholders meeting at their principal office in Barangay Mansilingan here on Monday.

Under Leo Rey Yanson's leadership, the Yanson Group of Bus Companies (YGBC) is currently composed of more than 4,800 buses, 18,000 employees providing public transportation to around 700,000 people daily in the Philippines.

Controversies

In June 2020, the Bacolod City Prosecutor filed a criminal complaint with Bacolod City Regional Trial Court Branch 44 against Roy Yanson, Ma. Lourdes Celina Y. Lopez, Ricardo Yanson Jr. and Emily Yanson — the “Yanson 4” — acting as the new VTI officers. The defendants were charged with qualified theft under Articles 310 and 308 of the Revised Penal Code. The Information alleged that respondents seized several titles and documents from VTI in 2019, when they tried to take control of the Company in 2019. The VTI management led by Leo Rey Yanson and Olivia Yanson filed the instant certiorari case.

On July 30, 2024, the Cebu City Court of Appeals ordered the “Yanson 4”, the court a quo Judge Ana Celester Bernad, VTI and Hernan Omecillo to surrender documents in the pending litigation. The Yanson family and Yanson Group of Bus Companies’ original titles properties and specific documents were ordered placed in ''custodia legis'' to maintain the status quo and as evidence in the criminal case.

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.

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:

Destinations

Since the re-organization of Yanson Group of Bus Companies in 2005, Vallacar Transit Inc. is sub-divided into bases in which has different areas of service and destinations.

Bacolod Base

The Bacolod Base is located at Masilingan, Bacolod with its terminal hub at Ceres Bus Liner North Terminal, Mandalagan, Bacolod and at Bacolod South Terminal, Luzuriaga St, Bacolod. 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 to the rest of the Negros Island Region, Cebu and Zamboanga City.

From North branch
* Bacolod – Cebu City via Escalante/Tabuelan
* Bacolod – Victorias City
* Bacolod – Cadiz
* Bacolod – Sagay City/Vito
* Bacolod – Escalante
* Bacolod – Minapasuk, Calatrava
* Bacolod – San Carlos City via Cadiz
* Bacolod – San Carlos City via Salvador Benedicto
* Bacolod – San Carlos City via Bug-Ang, Toboso
* Bacolod – Quezon ( San Carlos City)
* Bacolod – Canlaon via San Carlos
* Bacolod – Dumaguete via Escalante/San Carlos
* Bacolod – Zamboanga City via Cadiz/San Carlos City/Dumaguete/Dipolog/Ipil/Dapitan

Loop Service
* San Carlos City - Canlaon

From South branch
* Bacolod – Cebu City via Toledo City/Salvador Benedicto/San Carlos City
* Bacolod – Cebu City via Canlaon/Bulado (Guihulngan)/Tangil (Dumanjug)
* Bacolod – Cebu City via Kabankalan City/Mabinay
* Bacolod – Dumaguete via Kabankalan City/Mabinay
* Bacolod – La Carlota
* Bacolod – La Castellana
* Bacolod – Ma-ao, Bago
* Bacolod – Pontevedra
* Bacolod – Canlaon via Magallon
* Bacolod – Canlaon via Biak na Bato
* Bacolod – Kabankalan
* Bacolod – Inapoy, Kabankalan
* Bacolod – Bantayan, Kabankalan
* Bacolod – Sikatuna (Isabela) via Isabela
* Bacolod – Sikatuna, Isabela via Binalbagan
* Bacolod – Narra (Camalanda-an, Cauayan)
* Bacolod – Sipalay via Cauayan
* Bacolod – Sipalay via Candoni
* Bacolod – Bactolon (Camindagan, Sipalay)
* Bacolod – Hinoba-an
* Bacolod – Candoni
* Bacolod – Binalbagan
* Bacolod – Bayawan
* Bacolod – Zamboanga City via Kabankalan City/Mabinay/Dumaguete/Dipolog/Ipil/Dapitan

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
*Iloilo City – Concepcion via Sara/ Ajuy
*Iloilo City - San Dionisio via Ajuy/Sara/Concepcion
*Iloilo City – Balasan
*Iloilo City – Estancia via Balasan
*Iloilo City – Carles

Central lines: via Passi City (From Ceres Terminal, Jaro, Iloilo City)
*Iloilo City – Passi
*Iloilo City – Calinog via Passi City
*Iloilo City – Roxas City via Passi City
*Iloilo City – Kalibo via Passi City
*Iloilo City – Caticlan via Kalibo

Central lines: From Festive Walk Transport Terminal, Iloilo Business Park, Mandurriao, Iloilo City
*Iloilo City – Kalibo International Airport
*Iloilo City – Caticlan Airport via Kalibo
*Iloilo City – Iloilo International Airport

Central lines: From Pavia Transport Terminal, Pavia, Iloilo
*Iloilo City – Roxas City via Calinog, Tapaz, Dumalag
*Iloilo City – Kalibo via Calinog/Tapaz/Jamindan
*Iloilo City – Jamindan via Calinog/Tapaz
*Iloilo City – Tapaz via Calinog

Antique lines: From San Pedro, Molo Terminal, Iloilo City
*Iloilo City – Caticlan via San Jose
*Iloilo City – Kalibo via San Jose/Culasi/Pandan/Libertad
*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
*Roxas City – Estancia
*Roxas City – Balasan via President Roxas/Pilar

Dumaguete Base

Dumaguete Base is located at Calindagan Road, Dumaguete with its terminal hub at the same location. The base is assigned as Base 7 of the Yanson Group of Bus Companies. Their routes are from Dumaguete to the rest of the Negros Island Region, Cebu, Bohol, Western Visayas and Zamboanga City.
* Dumaguete – Cebu City via Bato/Oslob
* Dumaguete – Bacolod via Kabankalan/Mabinay
* Dumaguete – Bacolod via San Carlos
* Dumaguete – Bayawan
* Dumaguete – Bayawan via Pamplona
* Dumaguete – Kalumboyan via Bayawan
* Dumaguete – Banay-Banay via Bayawan
* Dumaguete – Mandu-ao via Bayawan
* Dumaguete – Bantayan via Bayawan
* Dumaguete – Dawis via Bayawan
* Dumaguete – Tayawan via Bayawan
* Dumaguete – San Jose via Bayawan
* Dumaguete – Siaton via Mayabon/Si-it/Bonbonon/Malabuhan
* Dumaguete – Tanjay/Pamplona
* Dumaguete – Bais
* Dumaguete – Mabinay
* Dumaguete – Mabinay via Dawis
* Dumaguete – Baras via Mabinay
* Dumaguete – Tara via Mabinay
* Dumaguete – Manjuyod
* Dumaguete – Ayungon
* Dumaguete – Tambo via Ayungon
* Dumaguete – Bago via Ayungon
* Dumaguete – Jimalalud
* Dumaguete – Owacan via Jimalalud
* Dumaguete – Bagtic via La Libertad/Pacuan
* Dumaguete – Guihulngan
* Dumaguete – Trinidad via Guihulngan
* Dumaguete – Canlaon
* Dumaguete – San Carlos City
* Dumaguete – Hinoba-an
* Dumaguete – Sipalay
* Dumaguete – Cubao via Mabinay/Kabankalan City/Bacolod (Operated by Ceres Transport)
* Dumaguete – Cubao via Guihulngan/San Carlos/Bacolod (Operated by Ceres Transport)
* Dumaguete – Pasay Terminal/ PITX, Parañaque via Mabinay/Kabankalan City/Bacolod/Iloilo/Kalibo/Caticlan/Mindoro/Batangas Port (Operated by Ceres Transport)
* Bayawan – Cebu City via Dumaguete
* Bayawan – Mabinay via Dumaguete
* Sipalay – Cebu City via Dumaguete
* Dumaguete – Ubay, Bohol via Taloot/Loon & Tagbilaran City, Bohol

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 SM City Cebu, 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, SM City Cebu, North Reclamation Area, Cebu City

* Cebu City – Maya (Daanbantayan) via Bagay
* Cebu City – Maya (Daanbantayan) via Kawit
* Cebu City – Daanbantayan via Kawit
* Cebu City – Bogo City
* Cebu City – Tacloban City via Bogo/Palompon
* Cebu City – San Isidro via Bogo/Palompon
* Cebu City – Hagnaya (San Remigio) via Bogo
* Cebu City – Lambusan (San Remigio) via Hagnaya/Bogo
* Cebu City – Bantayan via Santa Fe/Hagnaya Port
* Cebu City – Madridejos via Bantayan/Santa Fe/Hagnaya Port
* Cebu City – Tabogon via Borbon
* Cebu City – Tuburan via Tabuelan
* Cebu City – Asturias via Tuburan/Tabuelan

Southern lines: From Cebu South Bus Terminal, N. Bacalso Ave. Cebu City

* Cebu City – Bato (Samboan) via Oslob/Liloan Port/Santander (Loop service, operated by Ceres Liner and Sugbo Urban)
* Cebu City – Malabuyoc via Oslob/Santander/Samboan/Ginatilan
* Cebu City – Bato (Samboan) via Barili/Dumanjug/Ronda/Alcantara/Moalboal (Loop Service, operated by Ceres Liner and Sugbo Urban)
* Cebu City – Alcoy
* Cebu City – Carcar
* Cebu City – Argao
* Cebu City – Anajao (Argao) via Talo-ot
* Cebu City – Moalboal
* Cebu City – Zamboanga City via Bato/Dipolog City/Dapitan City Port
* Cebu City – Simala (Sibonga)
* Cebu City – Siquijor via Oslob/Liloan Port (operated by Sugbo Urban)
* Cebu City – Kabankalan via Tampi (Amlan)/Mabinay
* Cebu City – Kabankalan via Bulado (Guihulngan)/Mabinay

Central-Western lines: From Cebu South Bus Terminal, N. Bacalso Ave. Cebu City

* Cebu City – Pinamungajan via Toledo City (Operated by Ceres Liner and Sugbo)
* Cebu City – Aloguinsan via Toledo City/Pinamungajan

Metro Cebu Lines:

* Cebu IT Park – Danao via Mabolo/Maguikay/Consolacion/Liloan/Compostela
* Cebu IT Park – Mactan Newtown (Lapu-Lapu City) via Banilad/Cabangcalan/Maguikay/Pacific Mall/Marina Mall/MEPZ 1
* Il Corso – Cebu IT Park via SM Seaside/N. Bacalso/Fuente Osmeña/Ayala (Operated by CIBUS)
* Parkmall (Mandaue City) – Tintay Public Market (Talamban, Cebu City) via Cabancalan/Maguikay/Guizo/Mantuyong/Centro/Ibabao/Pacific Mall/Basak/Canduman ( Modern jeepney type)

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

* Viking (Built in-house, exclusive, 11 generations so far.)
* Yanson Legacy II (Built in-house, exclusive, less than 10 active)
* Yutong ZK6858H
* Yutong ZK6827H/HYG
* Yutong ZK6876H/HYG
* Yutong ZK6117HYG
* Yutong ZK6119HYG
* Yutong ZK6127H
* Yutong ZK6127HA
* Yutong ZK6127HYG
* Yutong ZK6128HGE Low floor
* King Long XMQ6111Y
* King Long XMQ6119T
* King Long XMQ6119T with modified fascia (Yanson ViKing 10th Generation/ 8th Generation)
* King Long XMQ6127G Low floor
* King Long XMQ6129Y5A
* King Long XMQ6129Y5
* King Long XMQ6129Y
* King Long XMQ6871CY
* King Long XMQ6821CY
* King Long XMQ6111CY
* King Long XMQ6125AY
* King Long XMQ6128AYW
* King Long XMQ6668AYD5D1 ( Modern jeepney type)
* Higer KLQ6118HKQE2A
* Higer KLQ6129G
* Hino XZU730L-B (Two variants, aircon and ordinary)
* Hino XZU342LJ PUV Class II (Modern jeepney type)
* Hino XZU342LN PUV Class III (Modern jeepney type)
* Zhongtong LCK6108H (Service bus)
* Zhongtong LCK6935H (Service bus)

Ordinary fare units

* Yanson FB4J 2023 "4th Generation" Skylander
* Yanson FB4J Crius
* Yanson FB4J Catseye
* Yanson Crius Hino Motors RK1JMT
* Yanson Crius Hino Motors RK8JSUA/RK8JMUA
* Yutong ZK6827H/HYG
* King Long XMQ6859Y
* King Long XMQ6871CY
* King Long XMQ6821CY
* King Long XMQ6107AYW
* Hino XZU730L-B (Two variants, aircon and ordinary)
* Santarosa PKB212 (Service bus)

Subsidiaries

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.

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 then retained the name Bachelor Express.

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.

Bus Brands under Rural Transit Mindanao Incorporated / Bachelor Express Incorporated:
*Rural Transit
*Rural Tours
*Bachelor Express
*Bachelor Tours

Ceres Transport Incorporated (CTI) / Gold Star Bus Transit 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.

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 its own subsidiary as Gold Star Bus Transit Incorporated, making it apart from the Ceres Transport Inc

Bus brand under this company:
*Ceres Transport
*Gold Star

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.

Bus brand under this company:
*Southern Star

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 – Koronadal route.

The stockholders of Mindanao Star Bus Transport, Inc., a sister company of Vallacar Transit Inc., the country's largest bus transport company, re-appointed Leo Rey Yanson as president.

Mindanao Star Bus Transport Inc. is part of the Yanson Group of Bus Companies which operate throughout the Philippines including in the cities of Bacolod, Iloilo, Dumaguete, Cebu, Cagayan De Oro, Butuan, Davao, Pagadian, Dipolog, Bohol and Batangas.

Bus brands under this company:
*Mindanao Star

See also

*List of bus companies of the Philippines

References

External links

{{commons category
Yanson Group of Bus Companies (YGBC) official websiteWikimapia - Let's describe the whole world!

Bus companies of the Philippines
Companies based in Bacolod
Transportation in the Visayas
Transportation in Mindanao
Transport companies established in 1968
1968 establishments in the Philippines