Joanna Jesh Transport

Joanna Jesh Transport Corporation, commonly known as Joanna Jesh Transport or JJT, is a Philippine city-bus operator associated primarily with public transport services in Metro Manila. The company was founded in 2003 by Crisinciano E. Mahilac, who had previously worked overseas in Saudi Arabia. Its name combines the names of two of Mahilac's daughters, Joanna Marie de Guzman Mahilac and Jessa de Guzman Mahilac. The business began with a small fleet consisting of eight imported Japanese buses and two ordinary buses assigned to the FTI–Navotas route. It subsequently moved toward an all-ordinary-bus operating model, acquiring Daewoo units and later adding UD Nissan Diesel and Hino buses. The company also obtained additional buses for the Baclaran–Navotas corridor under the Amtrak Transport Inc. name. That operating name became associated with the company during a period that included a serious 2008 road collision, after which the name and related regulatory issues attracted public attention. JJT's business is centered on scheduled bus transportation rather than vehicle manufacturing or a consumer product line. Reported fleet types have included Nissan Diesel, Hino, Volvo B7R, Volvo B7RLE, Daewoo BS106, Iveco CC150 and Daewoo BF106 PKB buses. Reference material describes a fleet of more than 230 buses, although the exact current total is not independently established here. Reported services have included routes connecting the FTI complex, Ayala Center, PITX, Monumento and other Metro Manila destinations. Some routes operate through the EDSA Busway or connect with major transport and commercial hubs. The company has also been linked with affiliated or associated operators. These include CEM Trans Services Inc., Yohance Express Inc., Sampaguita Auto Transport Corp. and RBM Grand Rally Transport Inc. Yohance Express was described as a successor or renamed operation using Nissan Diesel Santarosa Euro buses, while affiliated companies have been associated with routes to Novaliches, NAIA, Alabang, Grotto and intercity destinations. Corporate relationships and operating arrangements may change over time and are not fully documented in the available reference material. JJT has faced scrutiny over road safety and regulatory compliance. The most consequential incident was an October 2008 collision on EDSA near Santolan involving two Joanna Jesh-associated buses and a Commuters Bus Corporation vehicle. The crash killed physician Francisco Sarabia and injured several other people. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board imposed a temporary suspension, later lifting it after driver retraining and drug testing. The company disputed aspects of the allegations, while investigators and regulators addressed questions involving the conduct of the buses and the use of an allegedly unauthorized operating name. Later reports described additional allegations of reckless driving involving buses linked to the company or its affiliates. These incidents form an important part of the operator's public record, although they do not by themselves establish the company's current operating condition or responsibility for every reported event.

Joanna Jesh Transport was established in 2003 by Crisinciano E. Mahilac. The company name was formed from the names of Mahilac's daughters, Joanna Marie and Jessa. Before founding the operator, Mahilac had worked in Saudi Arabia, where buses displaying the KSA trademark reportedly influenced the early identity of his transport business. The company started with eight imported Japanese buses and two ordinary buses assigned to the FTI–Navotas route. It later standardized more heavily on ordinary buses, acquiring two Daewoo vehicles followed by 14 UD Nissan Diesel buses and four Hino buses. One of the Hino units was described as a converted Japanese bus. The operator also obtained ten additional UD Nissan Diesel and Hino buses for the Baclaran–Navotas route through Amtrak Transport Inc. The use of that associated name later became part of regulatory and public discussion after a serious road accident. On October 21, 2008, two Joanna Jesh-associated buses were involved in a collision at the EDSA-Santolan northbound loading bay. Accounts cited allegations that the buses had been racing before striking a Commuters Bus Corporation bus that had stopped to unload passengers. One Joanna Jesh bus then collided with a Mercedes-Benz sedan, killing eye specialist Francisco Sarabia and injuring four other people, including two conductors. Driver Martinito Madrid was arrested and charged with reckless driving resulting in homicide and was subsequently released on bail. The LTFRB imposed a 30-day suspension on Joanna Jesh Transport and Commuters Bus Corporation. The measure was later lifted after the operators complied with requirements that included a three-day driver-training course at the University of the Philippines National Center for Transportation Studies and drug testing. Joanna Jesh's legal counsel argued that the company had not violated franchise law and contested a sanction concerning the alleged use of an unauthorized business name. A police traffic investigator reportedly attributed the relevant loading-bay violation to the Commuters bus, which had stopped outside the designated area. LTFRB officials nevertheless indicated that further administrative, civil or criminal proceedings could remain possible. The operator subsequently expanded and refreshed parts of its fleet. Reference material describes more than 230 buses and lists Nissan Diesel, Hino, Volvo, Daewoo and Iveco models among its equipment. The company has been associated with routes linking the FTI complex, Ayala Center, PITX, Monumento and other Metro Manila destinations. It has also been connected with affiliated operators, including CEM Trans Services, Yohance Express, Sampaguita Auto Transport and RBM Grand Rally Transport. These businesses have been associated with additional urban, airport and provincial routes. In 2015, an AJ Sampaguita Bus Liner unit, described as a sister-company vehicle, was reported for dangerous driving on the elevated Skyway. In 2016, a Joanna Jesh bus was recorded swerving into EDSA barriers after allegedly racing another bus. These reports contributed to continuing public scrutiny of driving standards among the operator and its affiliates. The available material does not establish a complete current corporate structure, fleet count, ownership record beyond the founder's reported ownership, or a definitive list of all active routes.

• 2016

  Bus strikes EDSA barriers

  [1]Joanna Jesh Transporten.wikipedia.org

  A Joanna Jesh bus was recorded colliding with roadside barriers after allegedly racing another bus.

• 2015

  Affiliate driving incident on Skyway

  [1]Joanna Jesh Transporten.wikipedia.org

  An AJ Sampaguita Bus Liner unit was reported for high-speed and aggressive driving while carrying passengers.

• 2008

  EDSA-Santolan collision

  [1]Joanna Jesh Transporten.wikipedia.org

  A fatal collision involving Joanna Jesh-associated buses led to criminal charges against a driver and regulatory action against the operators.

• 2008

  Suspension lifted after compliance

  [1]Joanna Jesh Transporten.wikipedia.org

  The LTFRB lifted the preventive suspension after driver retraining and drug testing requirements were completed.

• 2003

  Company founded

  [1]Joanna Jesh Transporten.wikipedia.org

  Crisinciano E. Mahilac founded Joanna Jesh Transport and began service with imported Japanese and ordinary buses on the FTI–Navotas route.

A privately owned Philippine bus operator focused on high-volume urban and intercity passenger transportation, with operations and affiliations concentrated around Metro Manila routes.

• Public transportation · 2003

  Metro Manila city-bus services

  The core offering is scheduled urban bus transportation in Metro Manila. Reported corridors include FTI–Ayala Center and PITX–Monumento via the EDSA Busway, with other services and route assignments associated with affiliated operators.

• Fleet

  Bus fleet operations

  Reported equipment has included Nissan Diesel, Hino, Volvo B7R and B7RLE, Daewoo BS106 and BF106 PKB, and Iveco CC150 buses. The reference material describes a fleet exceeding 230 buses, but the current total is not independently confirmed.

• Provincial bus transportation

  Associated intercity services

  Through associated companies, the broader operating network has been linked with routes such as Pasay or PITX–Cagayan de Oro and with urban connections involving NAIA, Novaliches, Grotto and Alabang.

• 2016

  Reported bus racing incident on EDSA

  A Joanna Jesh bus was reported to have raced another bus before striking EDSA barriers; dashboard-camera footage was cited in accounts of the incident.

  Source

• 2015

  Reported reckless driving by sister-company bus

  An AJ Sampaguita Bus Liner bus was reported traveling at excessive speed and maneuvering dangerously on the Skyway while carrying passengers.

  Source

• 2008

  Fatal EDSA-Santolan bus collision

  A collision involving Joanna Jesh-associated buses killed a motorist and injured other people. The incident resulted in criminal proceedings against one driver and a temporary LTFRB suspension affecting the operators.

  Source

Read more

• 2008

  Driver retraining and drug testing after suspensionStrategy

  Background

  The LTFRB imposed a temporary suspension following the fatal EDSA-Santolan collision.

  Action taken

  The company complied with driver retraining and drug-testing requirements, including a three-day course conducted through the University of the Philippines National Center for Transportation Studies.

  Aftermath

  The preventive suspension was lifted, although regulators indicated that additional administrative or legal proceedings could still arise.

  Source

• Expansion through associated bus companiesStrategy

  Background

  The operator sought to address route and fleet requirements through related companies and additional bus units.

  Action taken

  Reference material links Joanna Jesh Transport with CEM Trans Services, Yohance Express, Sampaguita Auto Transport and RBM Grand Rally Transport, serving additional Metro Manila and provincial routes.

  Aftermath

  The resulting network broadened the range of routes associated with the group's buses, but the precise ownership and operating relationships are not fully documented.

  Source

1. 1Joanna Jesh Transporten.wikipedia.org