It wasn’t just the jeepneys that roamed the streets of Metro Manila in the 1970s. The era also witnessed the Love Bus, a special fleet of blue and white buses that boasted air-conditioning and enhanced commuter comfort that evoked class and nostalgia. It became a Filipino motoring and pop culture icon in the 1980s, but slowly faded away in the 1990s.
Now, the iconic Love Bus returns, this time as a part of a free public transport program aimed at providing commuters with more accessible travel options. The return of the Love Bus was recently spearheaded by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) through a program called “Love Bus Libreng Sakay (Love Bus Free Rides).” It consists of a fleet of 20 electric buses that will ferry passengers across select routes in Metro Manila, operating daily from 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
As its name implies, the Love Bus Libreng Sakay program offers commuters free rides during peak hours, from 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM, and from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The best part is that, according to DOTr, senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) are entitled to free rides at all times. To celebrate the return of the Love Bus, DOTr says that everyone will get free bus rides for the entire month of September.
In more detail, each electrified Love Bus unit can seat up to 20 passengers. It also has provisions for 10 standing passengers, as well as designated spaces for up to 4 wheelchairs. Accessibility features, including ramps, have been integrated to ensure the vehicles are PWD-friendly.
Elizabeth, a PWD commuter, 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).”
DOTr says that riding the Love Bus is easy and convenient. One has to simply download the Love Bus mobile app through the Google Play Store using an Android device. DOTr assured that those using Apple devices will soon be able to download the mobile app through the Apple App Store.
The “Love Bus Libreng Sakay” program is made possible through the DOTr’s partnership with Global Electric Transport. The program underwent trials in Cebu and Davao last July and has now been expanded to cater to commuters in Metro Manila. It pays homage to the original 1970s Love Bus fleet, which was the first air-conditioned bus service in the Philippines. At the time, the fleet offered a modernized alternative to jeepneys and regular buses, and quickly became a symbol of urban progress in the capital.
