First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos led the inauguration of the Love Bus, a fully electric shuttle service offering free rides to underserved commuters.

The service will connect major business districts in Quezon City, Pasig and Mandaluyong.

During the launch at the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority headquarters in Pasig City were MMDA chairman Don Artes, Pasay City Mayor Emi Rubiano and Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto.

Artes said private companies and local government units donated six electric buses. The MMDA chairman said the agency will procure more units to expand the fleet to 12.

“If you will notice, there is no public transportation servicing commuters on that route. People need to wait for the UV Express from Rizal, Antipolo, and QC as chance passengers, hoping that someone would alight for them to get on,” Artes said.

The Love Bus will start rolling on 10 September from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Last March, Artes partnered with Global Electric Transport (GET) Philippines for the Electric Love Bus program, part of the Marcos administration’s efforts to ease commuters’ daily burden.

Under the partnership, the MMDA will oversee Love Bus routes, provide enforcement support and infrastructure, and ensure alignment with public service objectives. GET Philippines will operate and maintain the buses.

Each bus can carry up to 30 passengers and will make an average of five to six trips daily.

The new Love Bus harks back to the service launched under President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. in the mid-1970s.

Artes said the government has not spent a single peso, since the private sector donated all the units being deployed.

“So far wala pa kasi the six buses were all donated: 2 from Robinsons Land, 2 from Megaworld, and one each from Antipolo City and Province of Rizal,” he said in a Viber message, adding that each Love Bus was bought for P5 million.

But for the government’s procurement, Artes said the unit price would be lowered as it will undergo public bidding.