DLTBCo

DLTBCo. (BLTBCo.)

Founded	1918
Headquarters	Malibay, Pasay City, Philippines
Service area	Manila-Southern Luzon, Philippines , Manila-Visayas, Philippines
Service type	Provincial Operation
Fleet	200+ bus units (Daewoo, Hyundai, Hino, Kia & Kinglong units)
Operator	Del Monte Land Transport Bus Company (formerly Batangas Laguna Tayabas Bus Company Incorporated)

Del Monte Land Transport Bus Company or simply DLTBCo is a provincial bus company formed as a subsidiary of Del Monte Motor Works, Inc. or DMMW. It was formed as a resurgent of Batangas Laguna Tayabas Bus Company Incorporated, or simply BLTBCo., one of the oldest provincial bus companies in the Philippines. It plies routes mainly to Batangas, Laguna, and Quezon provinces and other parts in Visayas region.

DLTBCo. was founded last 2010 when BLTBCo. was taken over by DMMW and later added to its investmment, although we 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.

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

Before proceeding to its present history, it is important to know about the historical background of BLTBCo., so that we may be able to see the difference between the past and the present history (DLTBCo.)

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 a wondrous task of being the driver, conductor and repairman for the whole operation. Through his handwork and dedication, he eventually acquired 17 more units of the passenger vehicles painted in red that people fondly called “pula”.

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 Tayabas, Quezon. The tow 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 much skills on the transportation business, he was bale to manage the tow 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) up to the present.

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, restructuring was adopted by modifying BLTBCo. into a multi-million enterprise having an all-Filipino 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.

1997-2001

Today, BLTBCo is under the adept management of its new chairman and chief executive officer Benjamin M. Bitanga, a virtuous business associate of the company. Taking over as president less than a year ago, Bitanga upholds BLTBCo’s status as one of the country’s best transportation enterprises at present that servicing the people from the southern part of Luzon and Leyte/Samar area.

2010-present

DLTBco has taken over BLTBco and continues routes to Metro Manila via Laguna, Quezon Province, Batangas Province, Camarines Sur & Albay. Recently, They installed Wi-Fi access powered by PLDT on their fleet. In short, passengers can surf the Internet while inside the bus equipped with Wi-fi.

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 the Martial Law, a group of private respondents, totaling 34 employees, led by bus conductors Librado Aquino and Eufemio Bondad, demanded the company for backwages 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.^[1]

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.^[2][3]

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.^[4]

Fleet

BLTBCo has maintained MAN, Hino, UD Nissan Diesel, Mercedes Benz, and Mitsubishi Fuso units from the time of refleeting between 1988 and 2001. Unfortunately, all of its buses were already defunct, while others were turned into ashes by the tragic 2003 fire that spread in the houses in Makati City and Pasay City areas, near Malibay. The operation was permanently closed for renovation and additional information suggests that the bankruptcy was due to the political involvement of one member of the Potenciano family. Many employees launched a strike that paralyzed the normal operation of the company.

After the suspended operations and renovation for six years, BLTBCo was revived from the ashes and later the company was taken over by Del Monte Motor Works, Inc. and renamed Del Monte Land Transport Bus Company or DLTBCo. Now, it has maintained most of the old routes and presently they have Daewoo, Hyundai, Hino, Kia Granbird & Kinglong units. DMMW is dedicated to retain the old history of the company to be able to reach its 100th foundation anniversary.

Bus Terminals

• Metro Manila
  • Malibay, Pasay City
  • Buendia, Makati City
  • Alabang, Muntinlupa City (for Legazpi & Naga trips only)

• Provincial Destinations
  • Lucena City*
  • Lucena City, Quezon
  • Dalahican, Lucena City
  • Lemery, Batangas
  • Batangas City, Batangas*
  • San Juan, Batangas
  • Nasugbu, Batangas
  • Balayan, Batangas
  • Calatagan, Batangas
  • Santa Cruz, Laguna*
  • Lucban, Quezon via Sta Cruz
  • Sampaloc, Quezon via Sta Cruz
  • San Pablo, Laguna
  • Tayabas, Quezon via Lucena City
  • Gumaca, Quezon*
  • Calauag, Quezon*
  • Tagkawayan, Quezon*
  • Buhi, Camarines Sur*
  • Naga City, Camarines Sur*
  • Iriga City, Camarines Sur*
  • Ligao City, Albay*
  • Legazpi City, Albay*
  • Tabaco City, Albay
  • Sorsogon City, Sorsogon
  • Bulan, Sorsogon
  • Matnog, Sorsogon
  • Catarman, Northern Samar
  • Rawis, Catubig
  • Catbalogan, Samar
  • Calbayog, Samar
  • Tacloban, Leyte
  • Ormoc City, Leyte
  • Baybay City, Leyte
  • Maasin City, Southern Leyte

^(*) denotes that DLTBCo. has restored most of its old routes same as that of BLTBCo.

References

1. ^ http://www.chanrobles.com/PDF.JURISPRUDENCE/Batangas%20Laguna%20Tayabas%20Bus%20Co.%20vs.%20NLRC,%20G.R.%20No.%20L-69875,%20October%2028,%201988,%20166%20SCRA%20721.pdf
2. ^ http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri1992/aug1992/gr_101858_1992.html G.R. No. 101858
3. ^ http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri1993/jan1993/gr_97196_1993.html G.R. No. 97196
4. ^ http://boardreader.com/thread/Flickr_Discussing_BLTBCo_MAN_units_in_BU_509nlXjqhqftxyo5g.html Thread: Flickr: Discussing BLTBCo MAN units in BUSES in the Philippines