APTPRA

In the 1960s and 1970s, door-to-door transportation services, using Ford and Chevrolet cars of that era, only had one departure in the early morning and one return in the afternoon. Transportation was somewhat haphazard, as there were no specific schedules or terminals. At the end of the 1970s, Sister Sol Ismael Tavárez advised the drivers to organize themselves, and thus ASIMILA was founded in 1979 with Héctor Castillo Pión (Bulé) as its first president, Nicolás Herrera (Guellón) as its first treasurer, Leoncio Martínez as its secretary of organization, Mr. Angito as second treasurer, and Mr. Toñé as discipline officer. Among the members were: Pastorí Núñez, Pablo Contreras (Rafael la Gaviota), Martín Castillo, Silvio Castro, Jesús Corina, Luis Cedano, Mr. Mercedón, Mr. Ubelin, and Amado Guellón. Once organized and established, they switched from cars to small buses with a capacity of 12 to 15 passengers, providing door-to-door service. In 1981, the Union of Drivers and Bus Owners of La Altagracia Province (SICHOPROLA) was formed. Throughout the history of our transportation family, there have been several General Secretaries, such as: Héctor Castillo Pión (Bulé), Francisco Castillo Castro (Jilín), Guido Cabrera (Guido), and Junior Castro Montilla (Junior). It is worth noting the outstanding participation of Mr. Florentino Cedano (Luis), who has held the position of Secretary of Organization in our family for six terms. In 1986, the demands and services required by the province made it possible to incorporate 26- to 30-passenger buses or minibuses and, with them, the EXPRESS service. Francisco Peña Ramírez, Florentino Cedano (Luis), and Martín Castillo were the first owners to acquire buses or minibuses to provide this service. In 1992, buses with a capacity of 36 to 40 passengers were incorporated, until 1998, when buses with a capacity of 45 to 50 passengers were used. In 2003, buses with a capacity of 54 to 60 passengers were introduced, equipped with all the amenities: full air conditioning and double television to meet the demands of the transport service at that time. In 2004, another offspring of this achievement in transport between Higüey and Santo Domingo was born: THE ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT BUS OWNERS OF THE PROVINCE OF LA ALTAGRACIA (APTPRA), starting as EXPRESO BÁVARO in conjunction with SITRABAPU, meeting a need and request from the tourism sector and the hotel industry in this region. It is worth noting that 98% of the owners, drivers, and conductors are natives of the Province of La Altagracia (Higüey), which means that APTPRA is a source of employment for our province.