One Unforgettable Experience on the Road!

Kabacan-Cotabato City route without Weena!

I had my first taste of crowding like sardines in a passenger van today. The Weena Bus Company had made good its promise to cut short its Davao-Cotabato route effective today to dramatize its protest over extortion, bomb threats, an appreciable number of passengers who refuse to pay, "kotong", etc. which have been plaguing the Company.

On the other hand, it seemed like fiesta for the passenger vans who took advantage of the situation. Some of these passenger vans operate without approved franchise as alleged by the Bus Company. Frankly, I hate to ride in these vans for these reasons: (1) unlike the bus, these vans do not have spacious leg rooms (2) most of these vans are old models, ergo, there is no guarantee as to their road fitness and safetiness, and (3) most of the drivers of these passenger vans are wreckless ones.

They drive as fast as they could to make more trips. This is exactly what happened to us today. On three instances, we almost met an accident. First, when we were leaving, our driver was forcing his way in the midst of motor tricycles lining up to pick up pasengers. We almost hit one of them. Second, we almost had a head-on collision with a ten-wheeler truck as our driver was competing for road space somewhere after Poblacion Aleosan where the road is under repair. And third, while our driver was reaching out for something from his back, we were getting off the concrete road track. At this instant I managed to grab the steering wheel to keep the van back on track and shouted at the driver afterwards to reprimand him. It was a good thing that I was seated beside the driver.

My co-passengers, I knew, had been struggling to control their nervousness. Matter of fact, upon reaching the town of Midsayap, 3 women passengers pulled out of the van and demanded a refund for certain portion of the amount they paid. An elderly woman retorted, "I don't wanna go on with this trip anymore; give me the remaining fare coz I'm transferring to another vehicle.." I almost did the same, but it seemed the male passengers want to show they got balls and so they can afford to stay.

At about the boundary of the towns of Midsayap and Libungan, our driver agreed to be replaced by a more responsible one, I would say. Immediately I saw some sigh of relief in the faces of the passengers. Me too! Thank God, we arrived safely in Cotabato City. This was one of the unforgettable experiences I had on the road.

Back to the Weena bus snag, I think, seriously, the bus company should reconsider its options. The company management can be sued for this action it has taken. Remember, the Company applied for a franchise to serve the Davao City - Cotabato City route. Serving this route only partially is a blatant violation of its approved franchise. The reasons for this action is really not justified especially that they are things of pure management-related issues and concerns.

The bus company has no right to punish the riding public for some shortcomings of its management. Otherwise, it must leave this route completely to other public conveyances.