OVY, LRY, GYD control the Yanson bus business

Leo Rey Yanson, Olivia V. Yanson, Ginnette Yanson-Dumancas are now in full control of the Bacolod City-based Yanson Group of Bus Companies which is considered to have the largest transport fleet in the country.

The group set sights on navigating the bus business amid the challenges of the pandemic after Leo Rey was re-elected chairman and president of YGBC’s key subsidiaries in a series of stockholders’ meetings from December 5, 2020 to January 18, 2021. Olivia was reelected as corporate secretary and treasurer of the same transport companies.

“Despite the challenges faced in 2020, the business remains strong and resilient. It continues to be steadfast in its goal to serve the Filipino people,” said Leo Rey.

In a statement, the group said they remain committed to providing the riding public with the most reliable means of public transportation for all.

The newly-elected board of directors is excited to provide quality transportation to every Filipino despite the challenges of the pandemic, the statement said.

The annual meetings were organized for YGBC’s subsidiaries including Vallacar Transit Inc., Ceres Liner Travel and Tours, Mindanao Star Bus Transport Inc., Bachelor Express Inc. and Southern Star Bus Transport.

Ceres Transport Inc., Goldstar Bus Transit Inc. and Rural Transit (Mindanao) Inc. comprise the other three business units of the bus conglomerate.

YGBC was founded in 1968 by Ricardo B. Yanson and his wife Olivia beginning with the purchase of one jeepney unit. The effort ultimately became a jeepney-assembly business.

In the early 1970s when the market was flooded with Ford Fieras, the Yanson couple decided to diversify into a small bus line which plied the Bacolod City-Valladolid-La Carlota route (hence Vallacar) and named it as the Ceres Liner.

Under Leo Rey’s leadership, the YGBC had more than 4,800 buses with 18,000 employees providing public transportation to around 700,000 people daily in 2019.