Marcos spends birthday launching new Love Bus, visiting hospital

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos yesterday spent his 68th birthday in Valenzuela by reviving the iconic “Love Bus.”

First introduced in the 1970s by his mother, former first lady Imelda Marcos, the Love Bus will once again ply Metro Manila roads and provide free rides as part of the government’s push for accessible, inclusive and safe public transport. It was among the promises Marcos made during his fourth State of the Nation Address in July.

“Support the new Love Bus to reduce fare costs, have some savings and reduce traffic and pollution. This is a huge help for our situation in Metro Manila. Sometimes, it takes time before buses arrive. Traffic is heavy and the movement is slow,” the President said in his remarks delivered at the Valenzuela Gateway Complex.

Marcos, joined by First Lady Liza Marcos and their son Joseph Simon, arrived at the launch aboard one of the new buses.

The new fleet of 20 electric Love Buses will provide persons with disabilities (PWDs) and senior citizens with free rides at all times.

Other commuters may ride for free during peak hours from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Marcos said he also plans to grant a 50 percent discount to students.

Each bus operates from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. and can accommodate 20 seated passengers, 10 standing passengers and four wheelchairs. Units are equipped with ramps and accessibility features for PWDs.

The initial rollout designates five buses each for three routes: Valenzuela Gate Complex Terminal-DSWD, Batasan Hills Loop and VGC Terminal-Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange. It is expected to benefit around 600 passengers per route.

All rides will be free for commuters this month. To register, passengers must download the Love Bus mobile app, now available on Android and soon on the Apple App Store.

The project was made possible through the partnership between the Department of Transportation and Global Electric Transport. Pilot runs were held in Cebu and Davao two months ago.

Before the bus launch, Marcos visited the Valenzuela Medical Center to observe the zero balance billing policy, which removes out-of-pocket costs for patients in Department of Health (DOH) hospitals using ward or basic accommodation.

He also led the nationwide rollout of aid programs under “Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Sapat para sa Lahat.”

The initiative brought government services, medical missions, job fairs and livelihood assistance to communities across the country, with major rollouts in cities like Laoag and Bulacan.

“This gift from our President proves that the government is the people’s ally. We are a government that is honest and working for every Filipino. The Marcos administration listens, serves and responds. We serve because the government is the ally of the people,” Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said in Filipino.

According to the DOH, around 36,000 patients benefited from free medical services nationwide: 13,000 from Luzon, 5,000 from the Visayas and 18,000 from Mindanao.

Greetings

House Speaker Martin Romualdez yesterday honored President Marcos on his 68th birthday, calling Bagong Pilipinas an enduring legacy of his leadership.

“On behalf of the House of Representatives, I extend my warmest greetings to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as he celebrates his 68th birthday,” Romualdez said.

He praised Marcos for inspiring unity and resolve amid challenges and opportunities, citing the administration’s achievements in infrastructure, digital transformation and social protection as pillars of progress.

Romualdez also prayed for the President’s health and wisdom, reaffirming the House’s commitment to be his “reliable partner in governance.”

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso also celebrated the President’s birthday, leading officials and residents in singing a birthday song for Marcos.

In his remarks, Domagoso thanked Marcos, the DOH and PhilHealth for their partnership, noting the increased presence of national agencies in Manila’s hospitals and health centers under health officer Grace Padilla.

The Mayor cited the recent opening of the city’s seventh hospital, the President Corazon C. Aquino General Hospital or Baseco Hospital.

“Even if we are struggling, I will not stop. I came from nothing, I was able to survive, so I will also help you survive, children of Manila,” Domagoso said in Filipino.

He also enumerated diagnostic facilities now available at Ospital ng Maynila, including MRI, CT scan, mammogram, ultrasound, X-ray and the city’s first cardiac catheterization laboratory, which allows angiogram procedures that were once too costly for ordinary citizens.

With the help of DOH and partner hospitals, Domagoso said Manila hopes to eventually offer angioplasty, stressing that heart disease remains one of the country’s leading silent killers.

Domagoso also assured residents that advanced procedures and diagnostics, along with dental care, are available for free in Manila’s public hospitals. — Rhodina Villanueva, Artemio Dumlao, Ramon Efren Lazaro