Back in the 1970s, it wasn’t just jeepneys that defined the streets of Metro Manila. The period also saw the rise of the Love Bus, a fleet of blue-and-white buses that stood out with their air-conditioning and commuter-friendly comfort. They carried a sense of class and nostalgia, later cementing their place as both a motoring and pop culture icon in the 1980s, before quietly disappearing in the 1990s.
Decades later, the Love Bus is making a comeback. This time, the revival comes under a free public transport program designed to give commuters better access to convenient and inclusive mobility. Recently introduced by the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the “Love Bus Libreng Sakay” program deploys 20 electric buses that will operate daily from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. across select routes in Metro Manila.
As the name suggests, the program offers free rides during peak hours, specifically from 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) are entitled to ride for free at any time of the day. To mark its return, the DOTr has also made all rides free for everyone throughout the entire month of September.
Each electric unit can seat 20 passengers, accommodate 10 standing riders, and has dedicated spaces for up to four wheelchairs. Accessibility features, including ramps, are part of the design to ensure PWDs can board with ease.
For Elizabeth, a PWD commuter, the service is more than just a convenience. She shared, “Napakalaking tulong sa amin na may kapansanan kasi ilang beses po nangyari sakin yung nabalewala ako [at] yung hindi ako napasakay, nabalya ako, meron pong dinaanan lang po ako kaya malaking bagay po ito para sa amin (It’s a huge help for us with disabilities because there were several times I was ignored, not allowed to board, got pushed aside, or someone just brushed past me. That’s why this is such a big deal for us).”
Commuters may ride the Love Bus by downloading the dedicated mobile app. Currently available on Android through the Google Play Store, it will also be released on the Apple App Store in the coming days.
The program is made possible through DOTr’s partnership with Global Electric Transport. After initial trials in Cebu and Davao last July, it now expands to Metro Manila, reviving not just a service but also the memory of the original Love Bus, once the country’s first air-conditioned bus line and a symbol of progress in its era.
