SINCE 1970s, Bachelor Express, Inc. (BEI) is the most visible king of the roads in Mindanao and Visayas being the biggest transportation company as far I know.
There were attempts to compete in few routes but would-be competitors find their selves lacking in capitalization to play against this juggernaut.
For Davao-Butuan route for instance, there was that green bus that served for a few years but did not sustain. There are also regular vans preying passengers in some alcoves and along the highways, but BEI remained the most patronized until another competitor came in the third quarter of 2017.
The Metro Shuttle introduced both non-air and fully air-conditioned buses for Davao-Butuan route last year. The last time I availed their services, I find so many reasons why more and more are patronizing them. One is ambiance that is indisputably passenger-friendly. And I am sure there are more reasons that I haven't perceived but the other passengers appreciated.
Why this column fetched this issue?
Last November 30, 2018 my virtuous buddy and I in media work picked to board a bachelor bus from San Francisco Agusan del Sur in going home to Davao. At 8:26 p.m., I was awakened with a loud voice of a man talking to someone on a phone. The voice was loud enough to dominate the bus TV audio. It prickled my narrow furs both upper and the lower to find out that the driver is holding a phone with his left hand, while the right hand is maneuvering along Nabunturan-Mawab stretch.
While the driver is on the highpoint of pleasure at phone, I called his attention to determine whether or not to continue driving while talking on the phone. And he replied in an effeminate tone, "Sorry sir," which for me it was not a serious apology but an irony.
I sent a letter of criticism to the management of BEI in Maa and furnished a copy to the LTO Regional Office 11 for a serious examination and judgment in connection to the Republic Act 10913 known as Anti-Distracted Driving Act. And, I wish to publish the BEI's reply and action on my Monday column.
abrigodann@gmail.com
