Cebu Autobus Co. & Bisaya Land Transportation Co.
During the American occupation (1900 to 1946) the political giants of Cebu, Don Sergio S. Osmeña and Don Mariano Jesus D. Cuenco were not only protagonists in the political arena but as well as in business.
Don Sergio owned the Cebu Autobus Co. while Don Mariano owned the Bisaya Land Transporation Co., the competing passenger trucks in the municipality of Cebu and the province of Cebu. Don Sergio and Don Mariano, were both lawyers, both served as governors and congressmen.
In May 1937 and prior to such date, Cebu Autobus Co. was the main courier of the mail routes or known as the caravan mails of Cebu. Cebu Autobus Co. was the contractor of the Public Service Commission. At that time there were six mail routes. It was designated by the Bureau of Posts as mail routes 806, 807, 808, 811, 817, and 825.
On May 13, 1937 the carriage of mail service was advertised for public bidding. The contract for mail service was awarded to Bisaya Land Transportation Co. On June 17, 1937 Bisaya Land Transporation filed an application with the Public Service Commission and alleged that the mail service in Cebu to Santander and its intermediate municipalities, between Cebu and Tuburan and its intermediate municipalities, Cebu and Aloguinsan and its intermediate municipalities, and between Samboan were "so poor" and necessitate the granting of a franchise.
Bisaya Land Transportation Co. proposed that it will have daily trips to the mentioned municipalities and will not only carry mails to be contracted with the Bureau of Posts but also passenger and cargoes.
The application was opposed by Cebu Autobus Co. and asked the Public Service Commission not to grant the application of Bisaya Land Transportation Co. The application was however granted by the Public Service Commission on October 14, 1937 in favor of Bisaya Land Transportation Co.
Cebu Autobus Co. went directly to the Supreme Court and questioned the decision of the Public Service Commission. Cebu Autobus was assisted by C. de Alevar while Bisaya Land Transportation Co. was represented by Attorneys Nicolas Belmonte and Cebuano lawyer Casiano S. Carin.
Justice Abad Santos who wrote the decision of the Supreme Court dated August 1, 1938 said that there was nothing wrong with the decision of the Public Service Commission. Coincidentally, Justice Abad Santos who was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court during the onset of the World War II was arrested in Tubod, Barili, Cebu, imprisoned in Cebu, then later brought in Cotabato where he was executed on May 2, 1942 by the Japanese Army.
The sons of Don Sergio and Don Mariano (Serging Osmeña and Dr. Manuel Cuenco) became opponents in the gubernatorial elections in 1951. Dr. Manuel Cuenco, the incumbent governor lost in that election to Serging. Their grandsons (Tomas Osmeña and Jose Cuenco) ran against each other for the position of mayor in the 1988 local elections. In that election Tomas won against Jose, the officer-in-charge mayor of Cebu City prior to the elections.
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