JAM (bus company)
JAM is one of the leading bus companies in the Philippines that plies from Manila to different routes in Southern Tagalog provinces including Laguna, Batangas, and Quezon.
History
April 7, 1968 - JAM Transit, Inc. was established and incorporated as a bus company by the late Artemio A. Mercado and Josefina Alon-Alon Mercado from whom the company’s name derived with the start of only four buses operating from Biñan, Laguna to Plaza Lawton, and Manila route. Artemio Mercado and some relatives owned 30% of Laguna Transportation Company’s shares, where he formerly worked as the general manager.
1990s - The company expanded by increasing more buses. They also generated major destination and established routes in Southern Luzon, including Lucena City, Quezon, Lemery and Batangas City, Sta. Cruz, Laguna and a number of selected metropolitan centers in the Bicol Region such as Daet, Naga City, Tabaco City, Legazpi City and Sorsogon.
June 9, 2001 - PSEI Holdings, Inc. owned by businessman Jose Ch. Alvarez bought JAM Transit, Inc. with the acquisition of 290 units. With the takeover, the following major destination such as Biñan & Balibago, Laguna, Lemery, Batangas City, Tagkawayan, Quezon province and Bicol routes were maintained.
Aside from provincial operation, city operation and chartered services are operated likewise. The new management maintains 11 major terminals serving passengers coming to and from Manila composed of Philtranco Service Enterprises, Inc., Amihan Bus Line, JAM Transit, JAM Liner, Phil. Touristers, Inc. & First Charter. Philtranco Service Enterprises, Inc. serves passengers from Manila to Davao in Mindanao, Amihan Bus Line from Manila to Bicol, Phil. Touristers, Inc. from Malabon & Navotas to Pacita in San Pedro, Laguna, First Charter serves special trip passenger, JAM Transit & JAM Liner serve passengers from Manila to Batangas & Lucena. Its main office is located at Kilometer 44 Penta Compound, Barangay Pulong Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa City, Laguna.
As of today, JAM is the number 1 bus transportation in Southern Tagalog.
Recent Incidents
- On December 22, 2008 at about 11:10 am (11:15) a JAM bus with body number 626 (plate number DWL-554) caught fire while traversing the south bound lane of South Luzon Expressway. The unidentified driver of this bus was able to warn his passengers before the fire could spread furher, enabling them to get out of the vehicle. Fire trucks coming from Biñan, Laguna and Carmona, Cavite arrived immediately to put out the fire some 30 minutes later. Arson investigators were eyeing faulty electrical wiring as the cause of the fire.
- On January 24, 2010, at around 3:30 pm, a JAM bus, bound for Lipa City, Batangas overturned at Laguna-Batangas boundary in Calamba City, Laguna after its left back tire was suddenly disengaged. 15 people on board hurt and were taken to the Sto. Tomas General Hospital in Batangas.
Recent Updates
As of now, JAM is now utilizing Hino, MAN, UD Trucks (formerly, Nissan Diesel) and recently Daewoo fleets.
Destinations
- Metro Manila
- Buendia, Pasay
- Kamias, Quezon City
- Lawton, Manila - Plaza Lawton/Park N' Ride
- Provincial destinations
- Batangas City, Batangas
- Biñan, Laguna
- Cabuyao, Laguna
- Lemery, Batangas
- Lipa City, Batangas
- Lucena City, Quezon
- San Pedro, Laguna
- Santa Rosa City, Laguna
- Former destinations
- Sta. Cruz, Laguna
Subsidiaries
- First Charter
- Buendia, Pasay
- Kamias, Quezon City
- Biñan, Laguna
- Batangas City, Batangas
- Lemery, Batangas
- Santa Rosa City, Laguna
- Phil. Touristers, Inc.
- Navotas - Pacita Complex, San Pedro, Laguna via EDSA, SLEX
- Kamias, Quezon City - Balibago, Santa Rosa City, Laguna via EDSA, SLEX