THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Wednesday revived the iconic ‘Love Bus,’ rolling out an initial fleet of six electric buses that will provide free rides between Robinsons Galleria and Eastwood City starting Thursday.
First Lady Louise ‘Liza’ Araneta-Marcos led the inauguration at the MMDA headquarters in Pasig City together with MMDA Chairman Romando Artes, Metro Manila mayors and private-sector partners.
The six buses will operate daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., with designated stops along the route equipped with waiting sheds.
Eastbound buses will leave Robinsons Galleria along Ortigas Avenue and pass through Meralco Avenue, J. Vargas Avenue, the MMDA headquarters, Lanuza Avenue and C.P. Garcia Avenue (C5), with stops serving Arcovia City, the C5-J. Vargas footbridge area, Bridgetowne/Opus Mall and Eastwood City.
Westbound buses will leave Eastwood City through Orchard Road and proceed to C.P. Garcia Avenue, J. Vargas Avenue and Sapphire Street before returning to the Robinsons Galleria public utility vehicle stop along Ortigas Avenue.
Each zero-emission electric bus can carry 36 passengers. The initial units were donated by Robinsons Malls, Megaworld, the City of Antipolo and the provincial government of Rizal.
The revived service takes its name from the original ‘Love Bus’ introduced in the 1970s during the administration of the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and associated with then-First Lady and Metro Manila Governor Imelda Marcos.
The MMDA said the electric buses are part of efforts to provide commuters with additional public transportation options while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The agency is studying proposals to expand the service to underserved routes but said it must ensure that the free buses do not adversely affect existing public transportation franchises.
‘Since rides are free, we need to ensure that the ‘Love Bus’ won’t compete with route franchises and that there are passengers to be served and no public transportation will be affected,’ Artes said.
Among the routes being considered for future operations are Makati City Hall-Mandaluyong City Hall-Pasig City Hall; Estancia West Wing-Uptown Transport Terminal; and Eastwood Mall-UP Diliman.
The MMDA is also in the process of acquiring additional Love Bus units.
Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto welcomed the service, saying it would benefit Metro Manila commuters, particularly Pasig residents.
‘Our city is in full support of any efforts of the government to ease the commute,’ Sotto said.
Rizal Gov. Nina Ricci Ynares-Chiongbian recalled the original Love Bus service in the 1970s and its role in the daily commute at the time.
Representatives of private-sector partners Megaworld and Robinsons Land Corp. also attended the launch.
Interactive gallery, annex
The MMDA also inaugurated an interactive gallery at the right-wing lobby of its main building showcasing the agency’s history, mandates, flagship programs and priority projects.
The gallery features multimedia displays, digital presentations, visual timelines, dioramas and exhibits intended to increase public awareness of the MMDA’s role in metropolitan governance.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said the facility could help younger generations better understand functions such as flood and solid waste management.
‘Through this interactive gallery, we are teaching the children appreciation of flood management, solid waste management which are always taken for granted,’ Belmonte said.
The First Lady and Artes also unveiled the marker of the MMDA Annex Building, which will provide additional institutional and operational space for the agency.
The annex includes function halls for seminars and training, a multipurpose basketball court that can serve as an emergency area during disasters, public showers and toilets, a mess hall and communal kitchen, guard houses and covered walkways.
Also present were Mandaluyong Mayor Menchie Abalos, Malabon Mayor Jeannie Sandoval, Caloocan Mayor Along Malapitan, Pasay Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano and Las Piñas Mayor April Aguilar, among other government and private-sector representatives.