Know Your Bus Series - Saulog Transit, Inc.

Photo By: Ron Camia/PBPA

Saulog Transit, Inc. is a bus company based in Cavite province. The company was named after the large Saulog clan, who, for generations, managed the company. Founded by Alejandro Saulog in 1946 as an incorporated company and operated and managed by his son Eliseo, it soon became a common name among passengers seeking travel from the province to nearby Rizal (now parts of NCR), Manila, and Zambales at the post-war period, a reputation which it holds to the present day.

As a public utility operator, Saulog Transit plied the Naic-Manila, Cavite City-Manila, and Cavite City-Olongapo Zambales route since the late 40's and early 50's, in stiff competition with Luzon Bus Line (not to be confused with Luzon Bus Inc. of Bulacan) at the Naic route (before it closed in 1962), Victory Liner at the Olongapo route, and Saint Raphael Transit, owned by Jose Samala, in the Cavite City-Manila route. Samala was Saulog's archrival in the 1950's, and the two operators would be consistently pitted in legal battles at the Public Service Commission (predecessor of the LTFRB) and the Supreme Court over Samala's petitions for additional units at the Cavite-Manila line and application for a new route between Cavite City and Sta. Cruz, Zambales (in this latter case, Victory Liner joined Saulog in its opposition of the new line, which was ultimately dismissed by the Supreme Court, allowing Saint Raphael to compete with the two companies in Zambales).

In 1974, Saulog Transit made a major acquisition by buying Villa Rey Transit out of business. Villa Rey Transit, principally owned by Bulacan's Jose Villarama and his extended family, was Pantranco's major competitor in Pangasinan with their shares of legal battles at the PSC and Supreme Court as well. This acquisition led to the creation of Dagupan Bus Company, Inc., operating in major routes at Northern Luzon and inheriting Villarama's rivalry with Pantranco.

Around the 1970's, as well, major expansions were made by Saulog Transit as well, opening lines from its new terminal in Parañaque at the province of Rizal (now part of NCR) and expanding towards both Pampanga (in direct competition with Philippine Rabbit) and central parts of Cavite.

Internal family conflicts continued toward the 1990's, culminating in a gridlock between siblings and relatives over the selling of stocks of Saulog and Dagupan Bus. This particular dispute resulted in court cases which ultimately allowed Saulog and Dagupan Bus's assets to be sold but not its stocks; thus the company remained with the family.

In the meantime, Saulog Transit continued on its way to expand even more by acquiring more routes and units, most particularly those going to upland parts of Cavite and its own line in the Baguio City-Cubao route and parts of Pangasinan.

At the turn of the century, Saulog Transit would be in much the same situation as they are in the 1990's, albeit with the sale of some of its upland Cavite routes to smaller operators from the area. Despite that, Saulog Transit continue to outlive each and every competitor that sprung up along their stronghold routes in Naic, Ternate, and Cavite City, and has struck up a rivalry with up-and-coming Saint Anthony of Padua Transport System of the Santiaguel family from Las Piñas.

The entry of Genesis Transport Services into its operations was a turning point in Saulog's history. Upon the execution of Genesis and Saulog's memorandum of understanding, the two companies agreed to long-term cooperation and allotment of Saulog and Dagupan Bus's franchises to Genesis. Thus, it started what was to be known as Saulog's modernization, with its old units replaced with newer buses similar to Genesis' units at the time. Later, Dagupan Bus was majorly acquired by JAC Liner's group, leaving Genesis to take care of Saulog Transit's daily business. Genesis has since integrated Saulog's operations into its own, creating a parent-subsidiary relationship.

Around 2012, Saulog Transit made a major move in Zambales by acquiring the Olongapo-Alaminos franchise of Jeremias Bahiwag, a route that took them within the line of sight of Victory's well-protected, territorial intra-regional route in Zambales and setting up the two for renewed competition.

In its long history of operations, Saulog Transit, despite all the internal troubles that it endured, has remained a respectable transport company in its areas of operation. With its consistent green-and-yellow liveries which inspired imitations all over the province, it has become an icon itself in Cavite, where commuters are quick to suggest and glorify Saulog. The most recent iteration of Saulog under Genesis only strengthened its position as coastal Cavite's most dominating company, where passengers loyally flock to its buses in admiration.

In its many years of operating buses, Saulog is experienced with many types of units. Some of its well-known buses in history were from Isuzu, Hino, and Nissan Diesel. Under Genesis, Saulog's operation relied on Daewoo, Yutong, Volvo, Golden Dragon, and similar Chinese buses. These buses are operated at Saulog's streamlined routes of Ternate-PITX, Cavite City-PITX-Avenida, Cavite-Olongapo, and Pasay-Olongapo. Recently, Saulog was also awarded the exclusive privilege to ply the point-to-point Sangley-NAIA route.