CEBU, Philippines – Inilunsad ng Department of Transportation (DOTr) ang isang bagong ruta ng libreng sakay sa ilalim ng muling binuhay na programang ‘Love Bus’, na nagdudugtong sa ruta ng Talisay City/Anjo World sa Cebu City sa pamamagitan ng South Road Properties (SRP).
Sa paglulunsad nito noong Biyernes, Agosto 22, sinabi ni DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon na ang pagpapalawak ay sumasalamin sa direktiba ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. na gawing mas accessible ang pampublikong sasakyan sa buong bansa.
“As you know, the Love Bus was started in the late 70s and in the 80s in Metro Manila but the president wanted to revive it and make it even better. It is now free for peak hours in the morning from 6-9 and peak hours in the afternoon from 5-8. And it’s also free all-day weekends and all-day holidays. So unlike before na may bayad ng konti, ngayon, the President said, we must do it free,” paliwanag ni Dizon.
Dagdag pa niya, habang ang ‘Love Bus’ ay dating limitado sa Metro Manila, pinalawak pa ito ng administrasyon sa Visayas at Mindanao para magpadala ng mensahe na; “the President wants this in all major cities in the Philippines.”
Tinitingnan ng DOTr ang P125-million annual budget allocation para sa Cebu, at binanggit pa na sulit ang investment dahil direktang nakikinabang ito sa mga manggagawa, estudyante, at minimum wage earners.
“Before when this was not free, for this route, it’s P30 one-way. So can you imagine? P60 one day for a worker, or a student, or maybe a minimum wage earner, ang laking bagay nito. It’s a huge benefit for our workers. The President just wants to make the daily commute easier, as we know it’s not an easy commute in our major cities, like Cebu,” aniya.
Kinumpirma rin ni Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman na ang serbisyo ay kasama sa 2026 national budget, na may ₱1.3 bilyon na inilaan upang mapanatili ang Love Bus operations sa buong bansa.
Ayon kay Dizon, ang Talisay City/Anjo World–Cebu City via SRP route ay kasalukuyang nagpapakalat ng 11 modernong public utility vehicle (MPUV) units, na may madaragdag pang bus.
“Dito I think sa rutang ‘to alone, it’s 2,500 (passengers) per day. For the Talisay-Cebu City via SRP, initially 11 units pero madadagdagan pa ‘yan,” ani Dizon.
Binigyang-diin din ni Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Frasco na ang Love Bus expansion ay nagbibigay ng parehong kaginhawahan para sa mga lokal at accessibility para sa mga turista.
“We’re very grateful for this, og makita nato nga ang kaning improved mobility in terms of land transportation is very beneficial for the ease and convenience for our tourists going around destinations,” ani Frasco. RNT/MND
