As part of his birthday celebration, President Marcos on Saturday, Sept. 13, led the launch of the iconic “Love Bus” in Valenzuela City, promising commuters cheaper, safer, and cleaner rides as the electric buses begin operations across Metro Manila.

In his speech during its lunch, the President said the revival of the Love Bus—popular in the 1970s—responds to Metro Manila’s worsening traffic and unreliable transport.

“Tangkilikin po ninyo ang ating bagong Love Bus para makabawas pasahe, makapag-savings nang kaunti, mabawasan ang traffic, mabawasan ang pollution dahil nga electric (Support our new Love Bus so that fares can be reduced, commuters can save a little, traffic will ease, and pollution will lessen because these are electric),” he said.

“Minsan napakatagal maghintay bago dumating ang bus. Napakabigat ng traffic, ang bagal-bagal ng takbo. Binubugahan tayo ng exhaust ng mga bus. Mababawasan na po lahat ‘yan (Sometimes the wait for buses is too long, traffic is very heavy and slow, and we’re exposed to bus exhaust. All that will now be reduced),” he added.

The Love Bus Libreng Sakay program will initially deploy five electric buses each on three routes: Valenzuela Gate Complex (VGC) Terminal–DSWD, Batasan Hills Loop, and VGC Terminal–Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX). Around 600 passengers per route are expected to benefit daily.

For the entire month of September, rides will be free for all passengers. Starting in October, free rides will continue for persons with disabilities (PWDs) and senior citizens throughout the day, provided they are registered on the Love Bus app. Other passengers may ride for free during peak hours from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez has said the Department of Transportation (DOTr) will expand the program to other urban centers.

Each Love Bus unit is fully electric and equipped with accessibility features, including ramps for wheelchairs, making the service more inclusive for PWDs.

The buses are operated under the Persons with Disabilities – Electric Transportation Service (PWD-ETS) project of the Department’s flagship Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), in partnership with Global Electric Transport (GET) Philippines. Twenty SLP associations will help operate the 20 units deployed in Metro Manila.

Marcos first promised the return of the Love Bus in his State of the Nation Address in July this year, citing it as both a cultural revival and a modern solution to traffic and pollution in Metro Manila.

The original Love Bus, launched in 1975, became a cultural icon for its distinct blue design and served as the city’s first air-conditioned bus system. Its modern iteration is envisioned to deliver the same reliability while being climate-friendly and commuter-focused.