Know Your Bus Series - Erjohn & Almark Transit Corp

 

Photo By: Cristian Pineda/PBPA

Erjohn & Almark Transit Corporation is a provincial bus company established in the 90's by Cielito Santiaguel of Las Piñas City. The company name is a composite of Mr. Santiaguel's children's names. In its history of operation, Erjohn and Almark is involved in numerous company acquisitions and divestment, gaining and losing routes and units along the way.

The company's first route (possibly as a sole proprietorship under Mr. Santiaguel's name) was the BF Almanza - Lawton - Sta. Cruz route, alongside a relative's company, TAS Trans. At the time, it operated Isuzu city buses in green and yellow livery, with body numbers starting with 20**.

At the turn of the century, Erjohn & Almark entered the Cavite sector, operating Nissan Diesel buses now numbered in the 80** series. Its first route at the provincial sector is possibly Silang-Divisoria via Lawton, in direct competition with J.S. Vergara Lines, Regal Starliner and San Agustin Transport. The company also faced Genesis-controlled Southern Luzon Crown Transport (who took over the operations of Crow Transport Services) by applying for the Calatagan-Pasay and Balayan-Manila route. By that time, they continued their reliance on the common Nissan Diesel SP215 against Genesis-SL Crown's more dominating Nissan Diesel RB31S, Golden Dragon, and MAN 18.232 buses.

Around 2003 to 2007, Erjohn & Almark had fortified their presence in Cavite province by acquiring more lines: Dasmariñas-Ayala; Ternate-Vito Cruz; and Indang-Baclaran. The units of choice for these expansion routes were Nissan Diesel SP215 and Isuzu FTR33, the company being Cavite's exclusive operator of the latter.

In 2007, Erjohn & Almark bought its first China-made buses, Higer KLQ6100 and Golden Dragon XML6127 for its Batangas routes. These units were followed by additional Golden Dragon units for a major refleeting at Erjohn's rationalized Alabang-Lawton route, which used fleet numbers in the 89** series.

In 2008, Erjohn & Almark bought all units and franchises of SL Crown, making it the most dominant bus company in Western Batangas at that time. SL Crown's old units (except the Golden Dragon), which were now assigned body numbers in the 89** series starting with 8926 (a MAN 18.232), were transferred to the Cavite sector in exchange for aged SP215 and newer Higer and Golden Dragon buses. Inter Batangas Bus Company, Inc. was formed from this buyout. Aside from the Nasugbu-Pasay route, Erjohn also acquired the Magallanes-Pasay Rotonda and Mendez-Mandaluyong route from SL Crown. However, it will not be enjoying a monopoly as Erjohn will be matched with San Agustin's new Balayan line and the entry of Mindanao Express within the next 2 years.

In 2009, Erjohn & Almark applied for the Mendez-Ayala and General Trias-Ayala route, which was granted the next year. The company bought second-hand Hyundai city buses for this route. Shortly after, around 2010, the company was divested of its Batangas line (and a franchise for Dasma-Ayala) as the Mercados absorbed it to form the Batman Starexpress Corp. (as a side note, this was named simply as "Batman", not "BATangas-MANila" as some people were quick to claim). Despite the loss of its Batangas line, the year turned out well for Erjohn as they finally begin to operate the Mendez-Mandaluyong line to its fullest, going head-to-head with Jasper Jean.

In 2011, Erjohn & Almark bought parts of another competitor, Mindanao Express, as Cris Mahilac and Weng Carating closed down the company. Erjohn took over one franchise of the Nasugbu-Lawton route which authorized a few Hino RK to operate (San Agustin having bought the other line with the Santarosa buses). To fill vacant units in Mindanao's franchise (the Yutong units having been returned to the dealer), Erjohn bought more Hyundai units. Mindanao's units were numbered in the 20** series under Erjohn, and marked Erjohn's fresh start at the Western Batangas market. This also marked the establishment of another company under Erjohn's wing, South Point Carrier Bus Company, Inc.

Shortly after, around 2012 Erjohn underwent another major refleeting program as they bought the newly-introduced UD Trucks PKB212 units from Santarosa, starting at the Mendez-Mandaluyong line and then the Magallanes-Pasay Rotonda line. This coincided with Erjohn's strengthened presence in Ayala Avenue. At the same time as Erjohn's refleeting, the company lost another franchise: the Indang-Baclaran route, which it sold to Renee Ramos, operator of Kersteen Joyce Transport. This was followed shortly by the sale of its Ternate-Vito Cruz franchise to Saint Anthony of Padua, who before this had bought out Ariel Express and Richford Bus Lines, and the Alabang-Lawton line to Saint Rose Transit.

However, it would be untrue to say that Erjohn is weakened at this point. With its focus retained on the Cavite market, particularly the Aguinaldo Highway corridor, Erjohn maintained a dominating presence along its path, operating more brand-new PKB212, and later Daewoo BF106 units across its routes. Using its older units, Erjohn also established a shuttle bus company (EAS Traveller Shuttle) at the Laguna area. Recently, upon the conversion of its Dasma-Ayala line to city operation, Erjohn & Almark dropped some of its last SP215 units in favor of the Zhongtong LCK6125G Fashion low-entry bus as compliance to stricter government regulations. It was also shown at a government press release that the company acquired some Class 2 PUV from Zhongtong, although it was unknown at present which route Erjohn & Almark applied for.

Erjohn & Almark buses are recognizable with two logos: that of EA, and of Batman, both of which were consistently used by the time they acquired SL Crown's Batangas line.