Manila: The 'Love Bus', a government-operated public utility bus service, is set to make a comeback on the streets of the Philippines, starting with free rides in Davao and Cebu. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. shared this development during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), outlining plans for the service's expansion to Metro Manila, Visayas, and Mindanao in the future.

According to Philippines News Agency, the new Love Bus service, initially tested by Malaca±ang workers in March, will feature electric buses with the nostalgic Love Bus design. Originally launched in the 1970s under the leadership of then-Metro Manila Governor Imelda Marcos, the Love Bus was the first in the country to offer air conditioning, a flat fare, and a fixed schedule until its operations ceased.

The President also highlighted other improvements in public transport services, including increased discounts for senior citizens and students to 20 percent and the introduction of the '1+3 Pamilya Pass' for the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1), Line 2 (LRT-2), and the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3). Marcos emphasized that these enhancements would proceed alongside ongoing projects like the North South Commuter Railway (NSCR) and the Metro Manila Subway Project.

Additionally, Marcos assured the public that nearly 50 unused Dalian train cars, purchased for the MRT-3 in 2014, would be operational by the end of the year, with the remainder expected to be ready by 2025. He acknowledged the decade-long waste of resources but expressed confidence in the current efforts to rectify the situation.