Del Monte Land Transport Bus Co (DLTBCO) & (BLTBCO)

About Del Monte Land Transport Bus Co (DLTBCO) & (BLTBCO)

The astounding performance and affluence that the BLTBCo enjoys today can be attributed to the benevolent effort of its founder MAX BLOUSE, an American sergeant during the Spanish-American War in the 1900. Following the war, he decided to stay in the Philippines and married a Filipina from Naga named Flora Arteza. The couple was blessed with one daughter, Maxima, christened after her father and who was later married to Col. Pelagio G. Potenciano. They were blessed with tow children namely Max and Flora.

It was in 1918 when Max Blouse began his business ventures and he founded the Batangas Transportation Company (BTCo). Starting with only one “calesa-like tires with wooden spokes” bus, Max Blouse preformed a wondrous task of being the driver, conductor and repairman in the whole operation. Through his handwork and dedication, he eventually acquired 17 more units of the passenger vehicles painted in red that people fondly called it as “pula”.

As a result of the thriving operation in the transportation business, Max Blouse in 1928 incorporated BTCo with his newly established bus company dubbed as Laguna Tayabas Bus Company (LTB) - concentrating in the area of Laguna and Tayabas, Quezon. The tow enterprises he had installed apportioned a conspicuous achievement until the disruption of the Second World War.

The remnants of the war resulted to an intense damage and decline of the company’s business activities. All operations were closed, records were destroyed and most of the company-owned buildings were ravaged by the war. Inspite of the miscarriage during those times, Max Blouse never lost his forbearance and intensified his effort to raise back the company’s destroyed properties.

Under a “Joint Emergency Operations” agreement on May 22.1945, the two corporations proceeded its operation with 28 Chevrolet buses which Max Blouse acquired from the US army. Again, through his diligence and high-spirited deeds, he enabled a spectacular stride by bringing back the prosperity that the company savored prior to the war. The pressing demand for public transportation also moved him to respond immediately by providing the people’s need to commute from one place to another as the country suffered from the debris of the war.

The death of Max Blouse on December 28, 1961 posted a challenge to Col. Pelagio G. Potenciano, a doctor by profession, who took the place of his father-in-law’s designation as president. Albeit the fact the Colonel Potenciano did not have much skills on the transportation business, he was bale to manage the tow corporations well through his dedication and industry. It was during his administration where the BTCo and LTB finally merged into one company and was approved by the company’s stockholder in 1964, thus, creating a new name termed as the Batangas Laguna Tayabas Bus Company (BLTBCo) up to the present.

Colonel Potenciano’s son Max, nicknamed “Sonny”, became the president from 1977 up to 1988. Just like his grandfather and that of his dad, strong determination and the will to succeed had inspired him to propel all the accomplishments into the limelight. With the full support of his loving wife Dolly Alonso and four sons namely Joey, Binky, Mike and Snooky the company realized its targets and was able to cope with the stiff competition in the transportation business.

In 1988, a new formula was instilled into the company’s management milieu by a new woman president in the person of Dolores Alonso Potenciano, wife of Max B. Potenciano. When she took her position as president, restructuring was adopted by modifying BLTBCo. into a multi-million enterprise having an all-Filipino management. (The company was originally in partnership by Max Blouse and his American associates).

During the course of her supervision as president, Mrs. Potenciano adapted a lot of changes and development in the whole operation. Her good dispositions and adeptness in yielding ingenious ideas propped up growth and changes in the entire company.
Today, BLTBCo is under the adept management of its new chairman and chief executive officer Benjamin M. Bitanga, a virtuous business associate of the company. Taking over as president less than a year ago, Bitanga upholds BLTBCo’s status as one of the country’s best transportation enterprises at present that servicing the people from the southern part of Luzon and Leyte/Samar area.

Unselfish Concerns

BLTBCO’s unprecedented success for decades now is confided in the harmonious teamwork between the management and its employees. This is particularly one of the reasons why the enterprise remains to be strong inspite of the hardships it underwent. Apparently, surmounting all those adversities in the past were just an indication of its sturdy foundation that implanted by the original founder, Max Blouse. This is a legacy that all of his successors tried to emulate with a highly desirable distinction for convenience, proficiency and safety.

The company puts more priority on the rank and file which is considered as its “backbone” for without then the whole operation will be paralyzed. To make all bus drivers and conductors convenient in their work, BLTBCo’s terminals have its own dormitory. It has a gym equipped with complete facilities where they can do bodily exercises. Regular meetings are also held in order to discuss whatever problems besetting the company and suggestions are gathered for the improvement of its services to the people.

As a way of recognizing worker’s significant role, a lot of benefits are given to them such as good commission and meal allowance, free uniform, free hospitalization and medicines, emergency and educational loans, emergency cash advances, insurance, vacation and sick leave with pay and other fringe incentives.






Story of BLTB

Batangas Transportation was organized in 1918, while Laguna Bus was organized in 1928. Each company now has a fully paid up capital of Pl,000,000. Before the last war, each company maintained separate head offices, that of Batangas Transportation in Batangas, Batangas, while the Laguna Bus had its head office in San Pablo, Laguna. Each company also kept and maintained separate books, fleets of buses, management, personnel, maintenance and repair shops, and other facilities.

Joseph Benedict managed the Batangas Transportation, while Martin Olson was the manager of the Laguna Bus. To show the connection and close relation between the two companies, it should be stated that Max Blouse was the President of both corporations and owned about 30 per cent of the stock in each company.

During the war, the American officials of these two corporations were interned in Santo Tomas, and said companies ceased operations. They also lost their respective properties and equipment.

After Liberation, sometime in April, 1945, the two companies were able to acquire 56 auto buses from the United States Army, and the two companies divided said equipment equally between themselves, registering the same separately in their respective names.

In March, 1947, after the resignation of Martin Olson as Manager of the Laguna Bus, Joseph Benedict, who was then managing the Batangas Transportation, was appointed Manager of both companies by their respective Board of Directors. The head office of the Laguna Bus in San Pablo City was made the main office of both corporations.

The placing of the two companies under one sole management was made by Max Blouse, President of both companies, by virtue of the authority granted him by resolution of the Board of Directors of the Laguna Bus on August 10, 1945, and ratified by the Boards of the two companies in their respective resolutions of October 27, 1947.