The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has solidified its partnership with Global Electric Transport (GET) Philippines to roll out a free electric bus service along key routes in the C5 corridor. The collaboration markers a new public-private effort to improve urban mobility in Metro Manila.
The agreement, signed at the MMDA head office in Pasig City, brings together the MMDA and GET Philippines under a campaign called the Electric Love Bus Program. The initiative will deploy ten units of fully electric buses, each capable of carrying up to 30 passengers, offering free rides to commuters.
According to the memorandum of agreement, the MMDA will oversee route management, enforcement coordination, and infrastructure support. On the other hand, GET Philippines will handle daily operations and maintenance of the electric bus units. The routes have been approved by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
The Electric Love Bus Program is expected to begin operations in the last week of April or the first week of May. Buses will run daily from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., with possible extension to 10:00 p.m., depending on passenger demand. Each bus is expected to complete five to six trips per day.
The initial routes will link Robinsons Galleria, Estancia Mall, the MMDA head office, Arcovia, Opus Mall and Eastwood City, covering both eastbound and westbound stops along the C5 corridor. The program is supported by private sector sponsors including Robinsons Land Corporation, Megaworld Corporation, Ortigas Land and International Solid Waste Integrated Management Specialist, Inc.
“Through this partnership, we are introducing fully electric buses that are cleaner, quieter, and more modern. These buses will help reduce pollution, ease congestion along key routes, and provide a more comfortable riding experience for passengers,” said MMDA Chairman Atty. Don Artes.
MMDA concluded the announcement by stating that it plans to extend the Electric Love Bus Program to other local government units (LGUs) across Metro Manila, subject to demand and sponsor participation.
Autocar’s Take
This is welcome news, especially to commuters who regularly use C5 as their main thoroughfare going to and from work, school, or other important destinations. The Electric Love Bus Program represents a practical test on how government and private developers can collaborate on providing mobility solutions. By focusing on a defined corridor with heavy business activity, the MMDA and GET Philippines are starting with a manageable footprint.
The use of fully electric bus units is consistent with the country’s decarbonization goals, though viability will depend on sustained funding and operational reliability. If the free services proves dependable and scalable, it could become a template for targeted, sponsor-backed urban transport initiatives in other high-density districts across Metro Manila.
But of course in reality, this free rides approach serves only to introduce the service to people, gather commuter interest, and spread the word to other urbanized areas that the service is here and will help improve daily mobility. Time will come when the service will charge commuters with a fee to keep the service running. Let us hope that by then, the MMDA, LTFRB, Get Philippines, and other organizations involved in the program will see the light to balance the fare to a more reasonable level that will secure both the Love Bus’ operations and the budget of ordinary daily commuters.
