Partas

Partas Transportation Co., Inc. is a bus transportation company in the Philippines. It operates a 24/7 service for passengers and freight (known as "waybill") between Metro Manila and northwest Luzon (the Ilocos corridor), with services also running to the Cordilleras in Baguio City and Bangued, Abra.

Aside from transporting passengers by bus, Partas also offers chartered service for tour groups.

Etymology

The name "Partas" was derived from the term "SATRAP", an ancient Persian language word for "governor" since Luis Chavit Singson, the owner and served as governor of Ilocos Sur for many years, spelled in reverse,. "Satrap" also refers to the name of the construction business owned and managed by Partas' owner/operator.^[1]"Partas" also sounds like "pardas," an Ilocano term for "being fast" or "speed."^[2]

History

Partas traces back its humble beginnings to 1992, a time when Philippine Rabbit and rival Farinas Transit Company ruled the Ilocos routes; and with millionaire Santiago Rondaris' Dominion Bus Lines shut down for good due to labor disputes which later became Dominion Bus Lines; and St. Joseph was sidelined by hard times. Partas Bus lines, as a company, was incorporated by Luis Chavit Singson and Rolito Go at Laoag (Ilocos Norte).^[1] Even as a new player in the industry back then, Partas has attracted the riding public with its state-of-the-art buses powered by Nissan Diesel and MAN engines; with the distinctive blue and white livery, and the Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner character from Looney Tunes, their standard emblem, adorning the front and sides of their buses.

Partas is one of two bus companies in the Ilocos Region to have ever fielded a double-decker bus (the other being Farinas).

The principal provincial terminals are at Laoag City (Ilocos Norte), Vigan City and Candon City (Ilocos Sur), Bangued (Abra), Baguio City (Benguet) San Fernando (La Union). In 2014, a sub-station in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte,

In Metro Manila, the main hub is at Cubao, Quezon City, which deploys trips to majority of its provincial destinations, except for Baguio City.

Trips to and from the majority of its provincial destinations, except for Baguio City, are available via their terminal in Pasay City. One of the latest routes added to Pasay terminal is Pasay to Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte (v.v.)

The latest terminal within Metro Manila was opened in Sampaloc district of Manila City. This terminal principally caters to goods traders in Binondo and Divisoria district of Manila, and students in Manila's University Belt who hail from Laoag City, Bangued, and Pagudpud.

Partas also has inter-provincial trips, running between Baguio City, Vigan City, Laoag City and Bangued, Abra and San Fernando City, La Union

Fleet

Partas operates around 300 buses. These buses are an assortment—from locally made ones to imports. The locals are built by Almazora Motors and Del Monte Motor Works using chassis and engine from MAN, Hino and Mercedes-Benz; while the imported ones are Golden Dragon (select models), Yutong and Zhongtong buses from China, Hyundai Universe Space Luxury and Daewoo BS106 from Korea.

Logo

The company's logo is a Roadrunner character which is displayed on their buses.^[3]

Fare Classes

Partas has employed various fare classes, which are sequenced below from the least to the most priced, yet all are air conditioned.

• Deluxe (28 or 31-seater buses; spacious leg-room equipped)
• Air Conditoned (45 or 49-seater buses)

Destinations

• Metro Manila
  • Cubao, Quezon City
  • Pasay City
  • Sampaloc, Manila
• Provincial Destinations
  • Bangued, Abra
  • Laoag City, Ilocos Norte
  • Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte
  • Vigan City, Ilocos Sur
  • San Fernando City, La Union
  • Candon, Ilocos Sur
• Inter-Provincial Destinations
  • Laoag City – Baguio City
  • Bangued – Baguio City
  • Vigan City – Baguio City
  • San Fernando City, La Union – Baguio City

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Partas.