PBBM relaunches Marcos Sr.-era buses on birthday, rolls out free rides in September

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. capped his 68th birthday on September 13 with hospital visits, job fairs, and a nod to his 4th State of the Nation Address pledge in July to revive the “Love Bus” as part of his administration’s efforts to ease the country’s transport crisis.

Photo Courtesy of Manila Standard

Marcos Jr. led the relaunch of the new version of the “Love Bus” for its pilot testing in Metro Manila at the Valenzuela Gateway Complex in Valenzuela City.

“Tangkilikin po ninyo ang ating bagong “Love Bus” para makabawas pamasahe, makapag-savings nang kaunti, mabawasan ang traffic, mabawasan ang pollution dahil nga electric,” Marcos said in a speech.

“Siyempre nauna tayo rito sa Valenzuela. Dahil papaano ko hihindian si Senator [Sherwin] Gatchalian, si Congressman [Kenneth] Gatchalian, si Mayor [Wes] Gatchalian at saka [DSWD] Secretary Gatchalian,” he added.

This was in relation to the “Love Bus Libreng Sakay” program headed by the Department of Transportation (DOTr), which aims to deploy a fleet of 20 electric “Love Buses.”

According to the DOTr, the program will cover select routes across Metro Manila, operating daily from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., including peak hours.

The “Love Buses” will roam the Batasan Hills Loop, Valenzuela Gate Complex (VGC) Terminal–DSWD, and VGC Terminal–Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX).

A total of 600 passengers are expected to be accommodated per route.

The “Love Bus” was a special fleet of blue and white air-conditioned buses that plied Metro Manila roads during the regime of Marcos Jr.’s namesake and late father, dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., in the 1970s.

In the 1990s, the “Love Bus” gradually disappeared from the streets due to losses incurred by its operator, the Metropolitan Manila Transit Corporation, after the post-EDSA revolt years.

This time, the new 20-seat version of the “Love Bus” retains its “LOVE” logo and color but now features CCTV, TV screens, electric-based operation, and full air-conditioning.

It is also equipped with person with disabilities (PWD) access ramps and can accommodate up to four wheelchairs.

With this, senior citizens and PWDs are entitled to free rides on the “Love Buses” at all times.

For the rest of September, however, the DOTr also announced that all passengers will be given free rides.

Earlier in July, the “Love Bus” initiative was launched through a DOTr–Global Electric Transport agreement, with pilot testing starting in Cebu and Davao, and has now scaled up to serve Metro Manila commuters.