Bus venture’s snafu is everybody’s business

By: Alex P. Vidal

“Since most corporate competitors have the same problems with sustainability and social reputation, it’s worth trying to solve them together.” – Simon Mainwaring

WE don’t agree that the corporate feud among the siblings that operate the Philippines’ biggest bus venture “is none of the people’s business.”

It may be true in as far as the corporate territory is concerned, but not in as far as public interest is concerned.

The Yanson family-controlled Vallacar Transit Inc. (VTI), Bachelor Express Inc., Rural Transit Mindanao Inc., Sugbo Transit Express Inc., and Mindanao Star Business Transit Inc. may be a private enterprise, but their clients, the customers are the riding public.

The nature of the transportation business cannot detach the company from its inherent social responsibility and accountability.

Since the aforementioned bus companies operate through a franchise issued by the government to serve the public commuters, public interest is very much involved, vital and necessary.

So much so that if the bus operations will be hampered and cause prejudice to the riding public as a result of any mismanagement or internal wrangling in the venture, the government is empowered by law to take over the company’s operations.

 

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Thus the people have the right to know what’s going on and how are the corporate board and officers handle and resolve the snafu.

Lawyer Sheila Sison, who represents Roy Yanson’s group (that wrested control of the company from Roy’s younger brother Leo Rey after a boardroom mutiny on July 7, 2019), meanwhile, has assured the public: “Despite this revamp, the board assures the public, its employees, and all its stakeholders that the company remains committed to serving the riding public. Company policies and programs will remain the same and its transport services will continue to be fully operational.”

Leo Rey, on the other hand, has “condemned the act of the de facto President, Roy Yanson in bringing in armed men inside company premises, sowing unnecessary fear amongst the employees. The act of the de facto President will surely hamper the operations of the company and spread confusion among the employee.”

Based on these contrasting pronouncements, the tumult may still be far from over.

In the name of public interest, we shall continue to monitor whether the contending parties can hack out a win-win solution or one party will decide to throw the white flag in favor of the other party.

 

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According to spiritual book author Max Lucado, worry happens when we keep our problems to ourselves or present our problems to the puny deities of money, muscle, or humankind.

“The act of prayers moves us from a spirit of concern to a spirit of gratitude,” he explains. “Even before our prayers are answered, our hearts begin to change.”

Lucado suggests that we take these steps:

• take your worries to God;
• find a promise too much your problem; and
• pray specifically.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)