The service of the iconic Love Bus has been launched formally in Cebu.

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon, Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Frasco, and Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman led the launch of the Love Bus in Cebu on August 22, 2025 for the free-ride program of the national government.

The Love Bus plies the Cebu City South Road Properties (SRP) - Talisay City - Minglanilla town (south Cebu) - vice versa route.

According to DOTr, the route was chosen because of the high volume of commuters.

Free ride is offered from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. daily, including weekends and holidays.

“For this route alone it's P30 one way, or P60 pesos. P60 pesos for student, minimum wage earner, ang laking bagay no’n…the President wants the daily commute easier, as we know it’s not an easy commute in major cities like Cebu so it’s just giving that benefit,” Dizon said.

An initial 11 units of Love Buses ply the said route.

It was learned that the national government has allocated at least P125 million annually for the free-ride program.

“Proposed budget mayroon tayong nakalaan na P1.3 billion para dito next year. Aasahan nating tuloy-tuloy ang serbisyo ng Love Bus all around the country,” Pangandaman said.

Frasco has pointed out how beneficial the Love Bus is to tourists. 

“Nakita natin how improved mobility in terms of land transportation is, very beneficial for the ease and convenience for our tourists going around our destinations, not just international but domestic tourists,” Frasco said.

The Love Bus is most popular in the 1970s and 1980s under the administration of President Bongbong Marcos, Jr.’s late father, Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. during his presidency.

The Love Bus has a seating capacity of 60 passengers.

Vannia Jane Batatas, a passenger, said the Love Bus is of tremendous help to students and minimum wage earners. 

“Ka’s [kalas] man [sa] plete kay taga-Talisay ko, two rides ko. Ig ing-ana free ra, maka-save jud," Batatas said.

In July 2025, DOTr launched the free-ride program on peak hours, tapping specifically the 01K jeepney route in Cebu City.

However, commuters raised complaints about certain modernized public utility jeepneys (PUJ) not plying on peak hours.

To this concern, Dizon said that “the main issue was the delay in the payouts to the operators.”

“That has been rectified already. Payments have been made. I don’t think we’ll have the issues again,” Dizon assured.