For more than three decades traveling in the Visayas and Mindanao, I enjoyed riding that yellow bus better known as Ceres Liner (with comfort and peace of mind, along with thoughts of safety and punctuality).
We had no idea of the corporate struggles and battles inside the bus company (Vallacar Transit Inc., the country’s largest bus transport company, which operates 4,800 buses in its fleet), until the infighting made it to the news (“Yansons willing to settle dispute with matriarch ‘as long as within bounds of law’” (Inquirer.net, 8/23/19).
Whatever the disputes or disagreements among the family stockholders/shareowners, the company’s paramount consideration should be the welfare of the riding public.
These people are responsible for performing basic vehicle maintenance to ensure that every bus in their fleet is in good working condition, and meets basic standards of safety and cleanliness. Of course, they have to see to it that their drivers and conductors are polite, well-disciplined and not under the influence of alcohol or prohibited drugs.
The feuding family behind the bus company should consider that with the protracted legal battle among themselves, some parties with the intention of sabotaging their operations may already be aiming for total control of the bus company.
Let us pray that the family’s conflict would be resolved immediately for the sake of the riding public.
ISIDRO C. VALENCIA,
Taguig City,
elcidvalencia60@gmail.com