President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has affirmed his administration’s commitment to addressing traffic congestion, especially in Metro Manila, with the revival of the “Love Bus” using modern and eco-friendly electric vehicles.
The President, during the launch of the Love Bus “Libreng Sakay” program at the Valenzuela Gateway Complex on Saturday, recalled that the original Love Bus was launched during the 70s under a program of his mother, former First Lady and former Metro Manila Governor Imelda Marcos, to provide the public a free and more comfortable travel to around the National Capital Region.
Marcos said the current Love Bus would use electric vehicles equipped with ramps and more spacious to accommodate senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
The Love Bus rollout signifies efforts to ease traffic congestion and provide additional modes of public transport in Metro Manila and other urban areas.
“Traffic congestion would be eased and pollution would be reduced because it’s electric, and this would be a big help in the situation in Metro Manila, as sometimes the bus takes longer to come, due to the heavy traffic, and they blow exhaust fumes. Those would all be reduced,” he said.
The 20 electric bus fleet would initially ply around Metro Manila but could eventually be expanded to other parts of the country.
It was pilot-tested in parts of Davao, Cebu, and Metro Manila by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Department of Transportation (DoTR) in June.
Each unit, which has been funded through the Persons with Disabilities – Electric Transportation Service (PWD-ETS) project under the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of the DSWD, has ramps for wheelchairs and other accessibility features, offering support to individuals with mobility challenges.
The Love Bus Program also aims to provide free public transportation during peak hours on designated routes, sustain the livelihoods of PUV (public utility vehicle) drivers and operators through performance-based contracts, reduce the economic burden on commuters – particularly students and workers- and improve service delivery while promoting inclusive mobility through government-subsidized public transportation.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said the PWD-ETS is a pilot project in partnership with Global Electric Transport (GET) Philippines.
PWD associations under the DSWD’s SLP program purchased the electric vehicles through a P2.25 million loan that was awarded to each group. The income from the operations of the 20 Love Buses would be distributed to the groups.
Marcos said that as a part of the official launch, all rides will be free for everyone during the entire month of September.
The President said under its regular operations, persons with disabilities and senior citizens get free rides while students will be charged 50 percent.
Regular commuters may avail of the “Libreng Sakay” program of the Love Bus during rush hour which is from 6:00am-9:00 am and 5:00 pm-8:00 pm daily.
The e-buses will initially operate on two routes – from VGC to the DSWD Central Office in Batasan Hills, Quezon City, and vice versa, and from VGC to the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), and vice versa.
To avail of the service, commuters may download the Love Bus app via Play Store for Android users or Apple Store for iPhone users.
