Husky Tours

Husky Tours

A Husky Tours 4488 at General Santos
Parent	Biocrest Multi-Purpose Cooperative
Founded	2005
Headquarters	09, Daproza Avenue, General Santos, South Cotabato
Service area	General Santos City, Cotabato City, Tacurong City, Isulan
Service type	Land Transport
Fleet	30+
Operator	Biocrest Multi-Purpose Cooperative and Transport Services
Website	Husky Tours Facebook Page

Husky Tours is a bus company that is based in General Santos City and has direct operations to the cities of General Santos, Cotabato and Tacurong.^[1][2] They were often dubbed as "Husky Bus" or "Husky" by their passengers, and by several tour blogging sites.^[3][4][5] Their operations are headed by Biocrest Multi-Purpose Cooperative, a cooperative formed by the officers of Biocrest Corporation and Eleventh Corporation in General Santos City^[6][7]

Etymology and branding

The bus company name literally came from a sled-type of dog that is used in the northern regions, Husky. They use a Siberian Husky dog as their corporate branding with blue and white color scheme, while their buses are categorized by the good characteristics of an Husky such as "Loyal", "Helpful" and "Trustworthy".^[8]

History

It started when the officers and employees of Biocrest Corporation and Eleventh Marketing Corporation to organize a transport service company. Thus the formation of Biocrest Multi-Purpose Cooperative and Transport Services, with Biocrest Multi-Purpose Cooperative as its parent company with its function to address the credit and consumer needs of its employees and members.^[6] Their Multi-Purpose Cooperative was then granted by the Department of Labor and Employment in 2005 through the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) of Region XII.

Although the company's name was Biocrest Multi-Purpose Cooperative and Transport Services, they choose to use the branding "Husky Tours" with a Siberian Husky as their corporate logo and branding. They debuted the route from General Santos City to Cotabato City via Koronadal City, Tacurong City, Isulan and Shariff Aguak.

They started with several coaches made from Almazora Motors. A several Hino RK Cats Eye air-conditioned and ordinary fare units, and some old buses from the defunct KTM Tours which Husky once bought were began to use for Husky Tours' operations.

By that time, bus companies are afraid to serve the General Santos - Cotabato route due to in-surging conflicts between the government and rebel groups along the mountainous areas of SOCCSKARGEN Region.^[9] Thus, only Husky Tours serve the said route up until today.^[10]

In 2007, Husky Tours operates a lone Zonda YCK6117HG. They became the lone bus company to own a Zonda bus in the Philippines.^[11][12]

In 2012, Husky Tours began to dissolve their ordinary-fare buses and stick to their air-conditioned units. At that same year, Chinese bus manufacturer Sunlong was about to expand their sales to the Philippine Market. Husky Tours then ordered several Sunlong SLK6106 and became the first bus company to operate a Sunlong bus in the Philippines.^[13] When their orders finally arrive in the Manila from China and in delivery to their headquarters in General Santos, Sunlong uses those Husky Tours buses as their marketing campaign with Sunlong's promotional ads in place at their bus units.^[14]

In 2015, they ordered 12 bus units from Guilin Daewoo.^[15] By the following year, another 12 bus units were ordered from Zhongtong. The new orders pushes them to replace their old units with these new ones.

Fleet

With at least 30 buses, these are the buses on their fleet:

• Almazora Hino RK Cats Eye
• Almazora Hyundai Aerospace Cats Eye
• Zonda YCK6117HG
• Sunlong SLK6106
• Guilin Daewoo GDW6119H
• Zhongtong Elegance

See also

• List of bus companies of the Philippines
• Mindanao Star
• Yellow Bus Line
• Davao Metro Shuttle

References