By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. celebrated his 68th birthday on Saturday by launching free rides for Metro Manila commuters through the iconic Love Bus, which was launched at the Valenzuela Gateway Complex in Valenzuela City.
In his speech, Marcos encouraged commuters to take advantage of the free rides until Sept. 30, saying it would ease their burden amid long waiting times and queues for ordinary buses.
“Tangkilikin po ninyo ang ating bagong Love Bus para makabawas pasahe, para makapag-savings nang kaunti, mabawasan ang traffic, mabawasan ang polusyon dahil nga electric (We encourage everyone to take advantage of our new Love Bus to help reduce transportation costs, save a little, reduce traffice, and cut down on pollution since these buses are electric),” he said.
“At malaking tulong po ito para sa ating sitwasyon dito sa Metro Manila. Kung 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 iyan (This is a big help, considering our situation in Metro Manila. Sometimes, it takes a long time to wait for the bus to arrive. The traffic is heavy, and movement is slow. We’re exposed to the exhaust of the buses. All of this will be alleviated through this initiative),” Marcos added.
Marcos personally experienced the service, arriving at the venue aboard one of the Love Bus units, accompanied by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and their son, Joseph Simon.
The new fleet of 20 electric Love Buses will offer free rides to all persons with disabilities and senior citizens at all times, while ordinary commuters may avail of free rides during peak hours from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Each bus has a seating capacity of 20 passengers, standing room for 10, and designated space for four wheelchairs. It is equipped with ramps and other accessibility features.
The buses will operate daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
To access the services, commuters must download and register through the Love Bus mobile app, which is currently available on Android and will be released on the Apple App Store next week, the Presidential Communications Office said.
In partnership with the Department of Transportation and the Global Electric Transport, the Love Bus will operate across Metro Manila.
Pilot runs for the program were held in Cebu and Davao in July.
Marcos first announced the revival of Love Bus during his fourth State of the Nation Address on July 28.
First launched in the 1970s as a project of former first lady Imelda Marcos, the Love Bus was the country’s first air-conditioned bus service, offering a modern alternative to jeepneys and regular buses. (PNA)
