JAC Liner Inc. is one of the largest bus companies in the Philippines serving the riding public en-route to Southern Luzon provinces which includes key destinations in the provinces of Laguna, Batangas, Quezon and Marinduque.[1]
History
JAC (Jaime A Chua) Liner, owned by Chua Family, started in April 1987 as a sole proprietorship operating two second hand buses along Alabang - Fairview route. The owner's family backyard lot was then became the company's repair shop and head office.[2]
A Metro Manila Bus Company's Yutong ZK6107.
In 1988, JAC Liner acquired eight additional second-hand buses from other bus operators. These were completely rehabilitated and made operational. A year after, they were assisted by a Bus Installment Purchase Program (BIPP), a program that would allow them to purchase buses on installment basis. It let them purchase 26 brand new buses and was granted to have additional franchises along EDSA.
In March 1992, they were formally incorporated as JAC Liner Inc. Two years later, they moved their operations to the Southern Tagalog regions, where, it immediately established itself as one of the largest bus company in the country.
2004 was a major watershed in the company‘s history when the founders decided to go on semi-retirement and pass on the day-to-day management of the company to their children, while retaining long-term policy-making functions of the corporation; the latter now call the entire shots in the operations, maintenance, finance and administrative departments.[2]
In the December 2004, JAC Liner formed their first subsidiary, Lucena Lines, Inc. with about 60 bus units.
In 2010, JAC Liner bought a Tarlac City based company, Dionisio R. De Leon Express and establish Pangasinan Solid North Transit, Inc. From a 30+ bus units, Pangasinan Solid North expanded their fleet size in up to almost 150+ bus units.[3] The following year, JAC Liner makes the first bus company in the country to offer free Wi-Fi on board service through the help of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT)[4][5]
In March 2014, JAC Liner took over the Sta. Cruz line of Green Star Express. Months later, JAC Liner acquired the whole franchise of Greenstar and their remaining buses being transferred to LLI Bus Company, but they retained some units under the Green Star Express Inc. name.
In 2015, JAC Liner took over Dagupan Bus Company Inc. and the provincial operations of Fermina Express in which has a total of at least 300 buses combined.[3] It was also a debut to their new subsidiary, Metro Manila Bus Co., a Baclaran - Fairview via EDSA and Baclaran - Fairview via Quezon Avenue route
Subsidiaries
A Green Star Express Inc. bus heading to JAC Liner's LRT Buendia terminal.
Fermina Express [Provincial Operations] (renamed and now under Pangasinan Soild North Transit Inc.)
Laguna Express Inc. (renamed and now under Lucena Lines Inc.)
Fleet
A JAC Liner MAN 16.290 Almazora Lion Star
JAC Liner Inc. runs ordinary and air conditioned bus units. Recently, the company has started to offer deluxe trips as well. Majority of their buses are made from Yutong.
Del Monte Monte Works DM 12 (operated by Dagupan Bus Company Inc)
MAN 16.290 AMC Tourist Star (former LionStar body)
A Yutong ZK6107HA of LLI Bus Company, a subsidiary of JAC Liner. This used to be a Green Star Express Inc. bus. Santarosa Daewoo BV115 Cityliner (operated by Dagupan Bus Company Inc)
Hino RK1J series, body built by Hino Motors Philippines Corporation
Modified locally built buses by ABTii
Yutong ZK6100H
Yutong ZK6107HA
Yutong ZK6119HA
Yutong ZK6119H2
Yutong ZK6122HD9
King Long XMQ6118JB
Wuzhoulong FDG6110B
Wuzhoulong FDG6110EC3
Golden Dragon XML6103
Former bus fleets:
Del Monte Motor Works Euro body Man 16.290
NDPC & Del Monte Euro Bus powered by Nissan Diesel
Mercedes-Benz fleets bodied by major locally built manufacturers
Santarosa EXFOH in Nissan Diesel RB46S bus chassis
Bus terminals
A JAC Liner Terminal in Buendia
Metro Manila
They have three bus terminals in Metro Manila, to wit:
JAC Liner once served Manila to Batangas City route. However, Yanson Group of Bus Companies came with an agreement with JAC Liner to open their routes from Batangas to Manila and will have their rights to use their bus hubs in Cubao and Buendia. Through this, the said route is now being served by Yanson's subsidiary, Ceres Transport and Gold Star Bus Transport Inc.
They also once served the Manila - Pacita, San Pedro, Laguna, which is now inactive.