Yanson Group tightens grip on Mindanao transport

Yanson Group tightens grip on Mindanao transport | Daily Tribune

ILOILO CITY — The Yanson Group of Bus Companies (YGBC) has reaffirmed its leadership in Mindanao’s transport sector after its main subsidiaries confirmed their respective boards during annual stockholders’ meetings held on 17 and 18 January 2026.

The group said it seeks to ensure stability and continuity in its operations, which form part of the country’s largest land transport network.

The confirmation of leadership aligns with the group’s efforts to strengthen its position in regional transportation, particularly in Mindanao’s main growth areas.

YGBC chairman and president Leo Rey Yanson, who was reelected to lead both companies, said that efficient transportation helps drive local development.

“Public transport moves people, goods, and opportunities. When mobility improves, communities grow,” Yanson said, as shareholders renewed their confidence in the group’s long-standing leadership.

At Mindanao Star Bus Transit Inc., stockholders reelected Yanson as chairman and president. The company operates routes across Central Mindanao, including the SOCCSARGEN region, which covers South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Cotabato, Sarangani and General Santos City.

Olivia Yanson, Ginnette Dumancas, Charles Dumancas, Arvin John Villaruel,and Rey Ardo were also reelected to the Mindanao Star board. Olivia Yanson was later reappointed as corporate secretary and treasurer.

Bachelor Express Inc., which operates intercity routes connecting Cagayan de Oro, Butuan, Davao, Surigao, Malaybalay, Valencia and Tagum, also confirmed its board. Leo Rey Yanson was reelected as president and chief executive officer, while Olivia Yanson retained her positions as treasurer and corporate secretary.

Bachelor Express serves as a transport provider for Northern, Eastern, and Southern Mindanao, operating routes that connect passengers to economic centers such as Davao and Cagayan de Oro.

Mindanao Star and Bachelor Express are subsidiaries of the Yanson Group, which is based in Bacolod City. The company is the largest bus operator in the Philippines and among the biggest in Southeast Asia. It operates brands such as Ceres Liner, Rural Transit Mindanao, Bachelor Express, and Ceres Transport, and employs more than 18,000 people nationwide.

Ricardo and Olivia Yanson established the group as a small jeepney business. It has since expanded into an inter-island transport network covering the Visayas and Mindanao, and is now a significant part of the country’s public transportation system.