Mindanao Star

Mindanao Star Bus Transport, Incorporated (formerly Weena Express, People's Transport Corporation) is a bus line under the umbrella of Yanson Group of Bus Companies (YGBC). It operates bus transport services from Davao City, to Soccsksargen Region and the Island Garden City of Samal (through its sub-brand Island City Express), and has their own base in Ma-a, Davao City.[1] Mindanao Star was once a part of Bachelor Express, but was later formed as an independent subsidiary of Yanson Group.

Mindanao Star Bus Transport Inc.
Mindanao Star Yutong unit rest at Davao Terminal, that plies for Davao-General Santos route.
ParentYanson Group of Bus Companies
Founded1980 (as Weena Express)
2015 (as Mindanao Star)
HeadquartersBugac, Maa Road, Davao City, Davao del Sur
Service areaMindanao
Service typeCity & Provincial Operation
AllianceIsland City Express, Inc.
DestinationsDavao City
Digos City
Cotabato City
General Santos City
Island Garden City of Samal
Fleet100 Bus units (Hino Motors, Golden Dragon, Nissan Diesel, Daewoo Bus, Hino Motors, Kinglong and Yutong)
OperatorMindanao Star Bus Transport, Incorporated
Websitehttp://vallacartransit.net/

History

It was established in 1980 as a Weena Express by its owner Mr. Bernardo "Digoy" M. Valdevieso.[2] It pioneered bus services between Davao City and Cotabato City. It also has a sister company, named People's Transport Corporation, plying the same route.

Between 2002 and 2008, the bus line suffered bombings due to extortion attempts,[3] which led to the company having financial problems. As early as 2007, Valdevieso already expressed his intent of selling the company to potential buyers saying that the attacks against his buses and terminals have proven to be burdensome to his financial standing.[2][4]

After eight years of Valdevieso's struggle, on January 7, 2015, the company announced that it has been sold to Bachelor Express Incorporated.[5] The company officially rebranded as Mindanao Star in mid-2015, with its first refurbished unit, number 15062, operated in June that year.

However, in the midst of their operation, Mindanao Star was separated from Bachelor Express and established their own subsidiary with the same name as their corporate branding, thus the Mindanao Star Bus Transport Incorporated. Their base which was once shared inside Bachelor Express' garage in Davao were lately moved to the former Weena Express' garage which is located near Bachelor's. They moved along with their new office and maintenance facilities.

In October 2015, Mindanao Star bought Holiday Bus, the bus line of Davao Holiday Transport Services Inc., plying the Davao City - General Santos City route, and a competitor to Yellow Bus Line, Inc.

In April 2018, Mindanao Star bought Holiday Bus' sister company, Island City Express, plying the Davao City - Island Garden City of Samal route. As part of the purchase contract, the Island City Express name was retained.

Since August 2019, Mindanao Star operated city buses as part of Davao City's Peak-Hours Augmentation Bus Service program. It currently operates the Toril, Catalunan Grande and Cabantian routes.[6]

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 two bases with one common base number under Mindanao Star:

Prefix Base Address
15 Cotabato Don Rufino Alonzo Avenue, Cotabato City[7]
Davao Bugac, Ma-a, Davao City

Cotabato and Davao bases were once a facility of the former Weena Express. With the sold out, Yanson Group uses the garage as Base 15's field offices.

Provincial destinations

Cotabato base

Cotabato base is located at Don Rufino Alonzo Avenue, Cotabato City,[7] with its terminal hub at the same location. The base is assigned as Base 15 of Yanson Group of Bus Companies, a base that is commonly shared with their head office in Davao City. Their routes are from Cotabato City to several parts of Soccsksargen Region and the cities of Davao and Digos.

Davao base

Davao base is located at Bugac, Ma-a, Davao City, with its terminal hub at Davao City Overland Transport Terminal (Ecoland), Candelaria, Talomo, Davao City. The base is assigned as Base 15 of Yanson Group of Bus Companies, a base that is commonly shared with Cotabato City. Their routes are from Davao to Soccsksargen Region, while they also cater several routes from General Santos City to its neighboring town and cities. The operation at General Santos was the result of their acquisition to Davao Holiday Bus Corporation. Meanwhile, as part of its acquisition of Island City Express, it also caters the inter-island service to Island Garden City of Samal.

As part of Davao City's Peak-Hours Augmentation Bus Service, it also operates city buses in Toril, Catalunan Grande and Cabantian.

  • Provincial Routes
    • Davao City – Kabacan
    • Davao City – Kidapawan City
    • Davao City – Bansalan via Santa Cruz
    • Davao City – Koronadal via General Santos City
    • Davao City – Babak, Samal
    • Davao City – Kaputian, Samal
    • Davao City – Peñaplata, Samal
    • General Santos City – Davao City
    • General Santos City – Digos City
    • General Santos City – Koronadal
  • City Routes
    • Toril - Roxas Avenue via Quimpo Boulevard / Matina / Ulas / Puan
    • Catalunan Grande - Roxas Avenue via Matina / Bangkal / Skyline
    • Cabantian - University of Mindanao (Bolton Campus) via J.P. Laurel Avenue / C. Bangoy St.
  • Mindanao Star's Golden Dragon unit plying the Davao-Cotabato route, in Davao City terminal.
  • Mindanao Star's Guilin Daewoo CDW6119H in its former Weena Express livery. The Yutong ZK6127HA behind it also belongs to Mindanao Star that plies the Davao-GenSan-Marbel route
  • Mindanao Star's King Long XMQ6129Y plying the Davao-Cotabato route moored at Kidapawan City terminal
  • Yutong ZK6127HA of Mindanao Star in Davao City, plying the Davao-Gen. Santos-Marbel

See also

References
  1. "MINDANAO STAR BUS TRANSPORT, INCORPORATED Bugac Maa Road, Davao City, Davao Del Sur". www.yellow-pages.ph. Retrieved 2016-11-22.
  2. "Embattled Weena Bus firm up for sale". GMA News Online. Retrieved 2016-11-22.
  3. http://www.mindanews.com/c3-news/2007/06/16/life-snuffed-out-of-jolly-rusty-the-bus-conductor/
  4. http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Nation&title=transport-company-gets-new-route-by-buying-bus-firm&id=100391
  5. http://mindanaotimes.net/new-management/
  6. Palicte, Che (1 August 2019). "Davao City to implement 24-hour bus system". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  7. Fernandez, Edwin O. "Hundreds stranded as workers of lone bus firm plying Cotabato-Davao route go on strike". newsinfo.inquirer.net. Retrieved 2016-11-22.
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