|
Thursday, December 11, 2003
A place for tired, hungry travelers
By Ben O. Tesiorna
EVER experienced traveling on a bus for hours? Hungry and tired, wanting and waiting for the next stopover only to find out that on the next "turo-turo," nothing is left but cold soup and bland-tasting viands. Worst, the price for the food is so expensive that you wonder if you are actually at a high-end restaurant masquerading as a rickety "turo-turo?"
Well, say goodbye to those expensive turo-turo, especially if you are traveling along the Butuan and Surigao routes. This is because just last December 6, a bus stop-over and restaurant was inaugurated along Barangay Hubang in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur.
Sitting in a one-hectare lot just along the high-way, the San Franz (short for San Francisco) Stop-Over and Restaurant is the brainchild of the Vallacar Transit Incorporated, owner and operator of the Bachelor Bus Express.
Emily Yanson-Ramos, VTI director, said they decided to put up the restaurant after receiving numerous complaints from the riding public regarding the unhygienic and expensive food from the various turo-turo their buses get to bring their passengers to eat during stop-over.
She said this is their way of taking care of their passengers to ensure they not only get to their destinations safe but gastronomically-satisfied as well.
Spending at least P10 million in building the San Frans Stop-Over and Restaurant, the establishment has a wide cafeteria that could sit from 200-300 people at one time. They have non-aircon and airconditioned rooms, very clean restrooms, and wash area and a mini-park for children and the young-at-heart.
A wide parking area is also available for vehicles in front of the establishment while a wider parking space at the back of the restaurant is reserved for Bachelor buses.
Tyronne Fabillar, general manager of the restaurant, said after San Franz they plan to put up the same in the Maramag (Bukidnon), Medina (Misamis Oriental) and Buda areas.
San Franz Resto is expected to cater to about 1,750 passengers a day plying through the Butuan and Surigao routes. It was learned that there are about 96 buses that passes thru San Francisco area per day.
San Francisco Mayor Jenny de Asis expressed her gratefulness to the Yanson family (owner of VTI) for choosing their municipality as the site of the first-ever stop-over and restaurant by the bus company.
Agusan del Sur Gov. Adolf Edward Plaza meanwhile promised the VTI company of the local and provincial government's participation and support for businessmen who plan to bring in more investments to their area.
(December 11, 2003 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[ return
to top ]
[ home
]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
