Public utility buses (PUBs) are one of the most common public utility vehicles (PUVs) that serve as public modes of transport in the Philippines. Especially in Metro Manila where a lot of people need to get around for work and other business, buses are quite popular for land transport. Not only are they cost-effective and cheap which makes them affordable for the average Filipino, but they also run numerous routes and offer frequent departures and stops which makes them the most accessible option for land transport. The city buses, in particular, also ply wide avenues and routes often connect suburbs, which is also one of their appeal.
However, using the buses to get around, though popular, is not without down3sides. Both the bus and the stops are generally congested, especially during rush hours. The buses also don’t run on fixed schedules and delays are also quite common. In fact, it isn’t uncommon for buses to leave only when it’s full. Despite these, buses are the go-to transport service for many Filipinos, making it an indispensable part of the daily lives of city-dwellers who need accessible land transport in and around the metro.
Understanding the Metro Manila City Bus Routes
If you are one of the regular patrons of the Metro Manila city buses, then you already know that they come in different kinds: There’s the standard public utility buses (PUBs) with air-conditioning (more comfortable) and the ordinary (cheaper but crowded) options, the more expensive yet faster express buses, otherwise known as the Premium Point-to-Point (P2P) Bus Service, and the middle-of-the-line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) which only takes smart cards for fares and are more popularly known as the EDSA Carousel.
List of Metro Manila City Bus Routes
In Metro Manila and nearby provinces, the following routes and stops for Public Utility Buses (PUBs) are in effect. Some of these routes have been newly added and approved by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board while some are modified versions of the old bus routes pre-pandemic.
Route Number 1: EDSA Carousel (Route E)
Terminals: Caloocan – Monumento; Bay City – Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange
Service Areas: Caloocan, Makati, Mandaluyong, Parañaque, Pasay, Quezon City
Route Number 2: Angono to Quiapo via Ortigas Avenue
Originally Route 11: Gilmore-Taytay, Route 12: Kalentong-Pasig, and pre-pandemic Cainta-Quiapo and Taytay-Quiapo routes. Most buses terminate at Taytay.
Terminals: Angono – SM Center Angono; Quiapo – Quiapo Church
Service Areas: Angono, Cainta, Mandaluyong, Manila, Pasig, Quezon City, San Juan, Taytay
Route Number 3: Antipolo to Quiapo via Aurora Boulevard
Originally Route 8: Cubao-Montalban, Route 9: Cubao-Antipolo, and Route 10: Cubao-Doroteo Jose. Buses still terminate at Farmers Plaza
Terminals: Antipolo – Robinsons Antipolo; Quiapo – Quiapo Church
Service Areas: Antipolo, Cainta, Manila, Marikina, Pasig, Quezon City, San Juan
Route Number 4: PITx to BGC via Buendia Avenue
Originally Route 13: Buendia – BGC, and pre-pandemic MOA-C5 Buting route. The sole operator, Green Frog Hybrid Bus, terminates most units at Kalayaan instead of proceeding to Venice.
Terminals: McKinley Hill – Venice Grand Canal Mall; Bay City – Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange
Service Areas: Makati, Parañaque, Pasay, Taguig
Route Number 5: North Luzon Express Terminal (NLET) to PITx
Originally Route 39, but still focuses on the same route
Terminals: Santa Maria – North Luzon Express Terminal (NLET); Bay City – Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange
Service Areas: Bocaue, Manila, Parañaque, Pasay, Quezon City, Santa Maria
Route Number 6: Sapang Palay to PITx via Quezon Avenue
Originally Route 5: Quezon Ave-Angat, Route 6: Quezon Ave-EDSA Taft, and pre-pandemic Norzagaray-Baclaran via Commonwealth-EDSA route. Most units still terminate at Eton Centris.
Terminals: Norzagaray – Sapang Palay; Bay City – Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange
Service Areas: Caloocan, Manila, Norzagaray, Parañaque, Pasay, Quezon City, San Jose del Monte
Route Number 7: Fairview (Nova Stop) to PITx via Quezon Avenue
Originally Route 6: Quezon Ave-EDSA Taft, Route 7: Quezon Ave-Montalban, and pre-pandemic SM Fairview-Baclaran via Commonwealth-EDSA and Quezon Avenue routes.Also known as SM Fairview-PITX.
Terminals: Novaliches – SM City Fairview; Bay City – Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange
Service Areas: Manila, Parañaque, Pasay, Quezon City
Route Number 8: Angat to Divisoria
Originally a provincial bus route
Terminals: Angat – Angat Public Market; Tondo – Divisoria
Service Areas: Angat, Bocaue, Caloocan, Manila, Norzagaray, Quezon City, Santa Maria
Route Number 9: Angat to Monumento
Originally Route 22, but still focuses on the same route
Terminals: Angat – Angat Public Market; Caloocan – Monumento
Service Areas: Angat, Bocaue, Caloocan, Norzagaray, Santa Maria
Route Number 10: Ayala to Alabang
Originally Route 14, but still focuses on the same route
Terminals: Makati CBD – One Ayala; Alabang – Starmall Alabang
Service Areas: Makati, Muntinlupa, Parañaque
Route Number 11: Balibago to Pasay
Originally Route 33: Ayala-SRIT, Route 35: Ayala-Balibago, and a pre-pandemic route.
Terminals: Pasay – Gil Puyat station; Makati CBD – One Ayala; Santa Rosa – Santa Rosa Commercial Complex
Service Areas: Makati, Pasay, Santa Rosa
Route Number 12: Biñan to Pasay
Originally Route 15: Ayala-Biñan, and a pre-pandemic route.
Terminals: Pasay – Gil Puyat station; Makati CBD – One Ayala; Biñan – JAC Liner Biñan Terminal
Service Areas: Biñan, Makati, Muntinlupa, Pasay, San Pedro
Route Number 13: Bagong Silang to Sta. Cruz via Malinta Exit
Originally a pre-pandemic route.
Terminals: Caloocan – Bagong Silang; Santa Cruz – Avenida Bus Terminal
Service Areas: Caloocan, Manila, Quezon City, Valenzuela
Route Number 14: Balagtas to PITx
Originally Route 1: Monumento-Balagtas, and pre-pandemic Malanday-Baclaran via EDSA Ayala Avenue route
Terminals: Balagtas – Metrolink Bus Corp. Terminal; Bay City – Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange
Service Areas: Balagtas, Bocaue, Caloocan, Malabon, Manila, Marilao, Meycauayan, Parañaque, Pasay, Valenzuela
Route Number 15: BGC to Pacita; BGC to Balibago
Originally Route 25: BGC-Alabang, and a pre-pandemic route
Terminals: Bonifacio Global City – Market! Market!; San Pedro – Pacita Complex; Santa Rosa – Santa Rosa Commercial Complex
Service Areas: Muntinlupa, San Pedro, Taguig; Santa Rosa, Taguig
Route Number 16: Eastwood Libis to Marriott Terminal via Acropolis
Originally a point-to-point bus route
Terminals: Quezon City – Eastwood City; Pasay – Marriott Terminal
Service Areas: Makati, Pasay, Pasig, Quezon City, Taguig
Route Number 17: Fairview to Ayala via Quezon Avenue
Originally Route 7: Quezon Ave-Montalban, and pre-pandemic SM Fairview-Baclaran via EDSA Ayala Avenue route. Most buses still terminate at Eton Centris.
Terminals: Novaliches – SM City Fairview; Makati CBD – One Ayala
Service Areas: Makati, Manila, Pasay, Quezon City
Route Number 18: SM North to BGC to PITx
Originally Route 19: North EDSA-BGC, and pre-pandemic SM Fairview-Taguig via EDSA Ayala, Buendia Avenue route. Venice Grand Canal Mall acts as a semi-terminus, with most buses turning back north, instead of proceeding to PITX, or making PITX-Venice Grand Canal Mall and Venice Grand Canal Mall-North EDSA separate trips.
Terminals: Diliman – SM North EDSA; Bay City – Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange
Service Areas: Makati, Parañaque, Pasay, Pasig, Quezon City, Taguig
Route Number 19: Norzagaray FVR to Santa Cruz via Marilao Exit
Originally Route 21: Monumento-SJDM, and a pre-pandemic route
Terminals: Norzagaray – Sapang Palay; Santa Cruz – Avenida Bus Terminal
Service Areas: Manila, Marilao, Norzagaray, Quezon City, San Jose del Monte
Route Number 20: Sapang Palay to Sta. Cruz via Malinta Exit
Originally Route 20: Monumento-Meycauayan, and a pre-pandemic route.
Terminals: San Jose del Monte – Sapang Palay; Santa Cruz – Avenida Transport Terminal
Service Areas: Caloocan, Manila, Quezon City, San Jose del Monte, Valenzuela
Route Number 21: Sapang Palay to Santa Cruz via Bocaue Exit
Originally Route 22: Monumento-Angat, and a pre-pandemic route.
Terminals: San Jose del Monte – Sapang Palay; Santa Cruz – Avenida Bus Terminal
Service Areas: Bocaue, Manila, Quezon City, San Jose del Monte, Santa Maria
Route Number 22: Sta. Maria to PITx via NLEX, R-10, Roxas Boulevard
Originally Route 2: Monumento-PITX, Route 22: Monumento-Angat, and a pre-pandemic Sta.Maria-Baclaran via McArthur Highway, EDSA route.
Terminals: Santa Maria – Caypombo; Bay City – Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange
Service Areas: Bocaue, Manila, Parañaque, Pasay, Quezon City, Santa Maria
Route Number 23: Alabang to Plaza Lawton via Alabang-Zapote Road
Originally Route 24: PITX-Alabang, and a pre-pandemic route.
Terminals: Alabang – Starmall Alabang; Ermita – Lawton
Service Areas: Bacoor, Las Piñas, Manila, Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Pasay
Route Number 24: Alabang to Plaza Lawton via SSH
Originally Route 14: Ayala-Alabang, and a pre-pandemic route.
Terminals: Alabang – Starmall Alabang; Ermita – Lawton
Service Areas: Makati, Manila, Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Pasay
Route Number 25: Biñan to Plaza Lawton
Originally Route 15: Ayala-Biñan, and a pre-pandemic route.
Terminals: Biñan – JAC Liner Biñan Terminal; Ermita – Lawton
Service Areas: Biñan, Makati, Manila, Muntinlupa, San Pedro
Route Number 26: PITx to Cavite City
Originally Route 30, but still focuses on the same route.
Terminals: Cavite City – Saulog Transit Terminal; Bay City – Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange
Service Areas: Cavite City, Kawit, Noveleta, Parañaque
Route Number 27: Dasmariñas to Lawton
Originally Route 28: PITX-Dasmariñas, and a pre-pandemic route.
Terminals: Dasmariñas – SM City Dasmariñas; Ermita – Lawton; Bay City – Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange
Service Areas: Bacoor, Dasmariñas, Imus, Manila, Parañaque, Pasay
Route Number 28: PITx to Naic
Originally Route 26, but still focuses on the same route.
Terminals: Naic – Naic Grand Central Terminal; Bay City – Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange
Service Areas: General Trias, Kawit, Naic, Noveleta, Parañaque, Tanza
Route Number 29: PITx to Silang
Originally Route 28: PITX-Dasmariñas, and a pre-pandemic route.
Terminals: Silang – Acienda Outlet Mall; Bay City – Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange
Service Areas: Bacoor, Dasmariñas, Imus, Silang, Parañaque, Pasay
Route Number 30: Balibago to PITx
Originally Route 34: PITX-SRIT.
Terminals: Santa Rosa – Santa Rosa Commercial Complex; Bay City – Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange
Service Areas: Makati, Parañaque, Pasay, Santa Rosa
Route Number 31: PITx to Trece Martires
Originally Route 27, but still focuses on the same route
Terminals: Trece Martires – SM City Trece Martires; Bay City – Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange
Service Areas: Bacoor, Dasmariñas, General Trias, Imus, Parañaque, Tanza, Trece Martires
Route Number 33: PITx to GMA
Originally Route 29, but still focuses on the same route
Terminals: General Mariano Alvarez – Puregold GMA Cavite; Bay City – Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange
Service Areas: Bacoor, Dasmariñas, General Mariano Alvarez, Parañaque, Silang
Route Number 33: SJDM to North EDSA via Mindanao Avenue
Originally Route 4: North EDSA-Fairview.Buses still terminate at SM City Fairview or Nova Stop.
Terminals: Diliman – SM North EDSA; San Jose del Monte – Starmall San Jose del Monte
Service Areas: Caloocan, Quezon City, San Jose del Monte
Route Number 34: Montalban to PITx via Quezon Avenue
Originally Route 7: Quezon Ave-Montalban, Route 8: Cubao-Montalban, and pre-pandemic San Mateo-Baclaran via EDSA, Batasan route. Buses still terminate at Eton Centris.
Terminals: Rodriguez – San Rafael; Bay City – Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange
Service Areas: Manila, Parañaque, Pasay, Quezon City, Rodriguez, San Mateo
Route Number 35: Balagtas to NAIA via MacArthur Highway
Originally Route 1: Monumento-Balagtas, Route 2: Monumento-PITX, Route 10: Cubao-Doroteo Jose, and a pre-pandemic Malanday-NAIA via EDSA route.
Terminals: Balagtas – Metrolink Bus Corp. Terminal; Ninoy Aquino International Airport – Terminal 2
Service Areas: Balagtas, Bocaue, Caloocan, Malabon, Manila, Marilao, Meycauayan, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay, Valenzuela
Route Number 36: Fairview (Nova Stop) to Alabang via C5, Commonwealth Avenue
Originally a pre-pandemic SM Fairview-Alabang via EDSA, Commonwealth route.
Terminals: Novaliches – Robinsons Novaliches; Alabang – Starmall Alabang
Service Areas: Makati, Muntinlupa, Pasig, Quezon City, Taguig
Route Number 37: Fairview to Monumento via Malinta Exit
Originally Route 3: Monumento-VGC Buses still terminate at VGC.
Terminals: Novaliches – Robinsons Novaliches; Caloocan – Monumento
Service Areas: Caloocan, Quezon City, Valenzuela
Route Number 38: Fairview to Pacita via Quirino Highway & Osmeña Highway
Originally a pre-pandemic Novaliches-Pacita Complex via EDSA route. Buses terminate at Gil Puyat Avenue or Lawton.
Terminals: Novaliches – SM City Fairview; San Pedro – Pacita Complex
Service Areas: Makati, Manila, Muntinlupa, Quezon City, San Pedro
Route Number 39: Fairview to Pacita via C5, Commonwealth Avenue
Originally a pre-pandemic SM Fairview-Pacita Complex via EDSA, Commonwealth route.
Terminals: Novaliches – SM City Fairview; San Pedro – Pacita Complex
Service Areas: Makati, Muntinlupa, Pasig, Quezon City, San Pedro, Taguig
Route Number 40: Fairview to Alabang via Ayala Avenue
Originally a pre-pandemic Novaliches-Alabang via EDSA route.
Terminals: Novaliches – Robinsons Novaliches; Alabang – Starmall Alabang
Service Areas: Makati, Manila, Muntinlupa, Pasay, Parañaque, Quezon City
Route Number 41: Fairview to FTI via Commonwealth Avenue, C5
Originally a pre-pandemic SM Fairview-FTI Complex via EDSA route.
Terminals: Novaliches – SM City Fairview; Western Bicutan – Arca South
Service Areas: Makati, Pasig, Quezon City, Taguig
Route Number 42: Malanday to Ayala via MacArthur Highway
Originally Route 17: Monumento-EDSA Taft, and pre-pandemic Malanday-Baclaran via EDSA Ayala Avenue route.
Terminals: Malanday – Malanday Transport Terminal; Makati CBD – One Ayala
Service Areas: Caloocan, Makati, Malabon, Manila, Pasay, Valenzuela
Route Number 43: PITx to NAIA Loop
Originally Route 18, but still focuses on the same route.
Terminals: Bay City – Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITx); Ninoy Aquino International Airport
Service Areas: Parañaque, Pasay
Route Number 44: Navotas to Alabang via Sucat Road
Originally Route 2: Monumento-PITX, Route 23: PITX-Sucat, and a pre-pandemic Navotas-Alabang via EDSA route.
Terminals: Navotas – Navotas City Terminal; Alabang – Starmall Alabang
Service Areas: Manila, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay
Route Number 45: FTI to Navotas via Buendia Avenue
Originally Route 16: Ayala-FTI Complex, and pre-pandemic Navotas-FTI Complex via EDSA route. Most buses terminate at Gil Puyat Avenue.
Terminals: Navotas – Navotas City Terminal; Western Bicutan – Arca South
Service Areas: Makati, Manila, Navotas, Pasay, Taguig
Route Number 46: Pacita to Navotas via Ayala Avenue
Originally Route 2: Monumento-PITX, and pre-pandemic Navotas-Pacita Complex via EDSA route. Buses terminate at Gil Puyat Avenue. Route 46 was initially via Alabang-Zapote Road, but was revised into via Ayala Avenue.
Terminals: Navotas – Navotas City Terminal; San Pedro – Pacita Complex
Service Areas: Makati, Manila, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Pasay, San Pedro
Route Number 47: Navotas Terminal to PITx
Originally Route 2: Monumento-PITX, and a pre-pandemic Navotas-Baclaran via EDSA route.
Terminals: Navotas – Navotas City Terminal; Bay City – Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange
Service Areas: Manila, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay,
Route Number 48: Pacita to Plaza Lawton
Originally a pre-pandemic route.
Terminals: San Pedro – Pacita Complex; Ermita – Lawton
Service Areas: Biñan, Makati, Manila, Muntinlupa, Pasay, San Pedro
Route Number 49: SJDM to NAIA via Quezon Avenue
Originally Route 5: Quezon Ave-Angat, Route 6: Quezon Ave-EDSA Taft, and pre-pandemic Grotto-NAIA, SJDM-NAIA, and Norzagaray-NAIA routes. Most buses terminate at Eton Centris.
Terminals: San Jose del Monte – Starmall San Jose del Monte; Ninoy Aquino International Airport – Terminal 2
Service Areas: Caloocan, Manila, Parañaque, Pasay, Quezon City, San Jose del Monte
Route Number 50: VGC to Alabang via C5, Mindanao Avenue
Originally pre-pandemic Malanday-Alabang via EDSA and Novaliches-Alabang via EDSA Malinta Exit routes.
Terminals: Valenzuela – Valenzuela Gateway Complex (VGC); Alabang – Starmall Alabang
Service Areas: Makati, Muntinlupa, Pasig, Quezon City, Taguig, Valenzuela
Route Number 51: VGC to Cubao via Mindanao Avenue
Originally Route 32: North EDSA-VGC, and Route 38: NLET-Cubao. Most buses still terminate at SM North EDSA.
Terminals: Valenzuela – Valenzuela Gateway Complex; Araneta City – Farmers Plaza
Service Areas: Quezon City, Valenzuela
Route Number 52: VGC to PITx via Dimasalang, Roxas Boulevard
Originally a pre-pandemic Malanday-Baclaran via EDSA route.
Terminals: Valenzuela – Valenzuela Gateway Complex; Bay City – Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange
Service Areas: Manila, Parañaque, Pasay, Quezon City, Valenzuela
Route Number 53: Cubao to Pacita via E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue
Originally a pre-pandemic route.
Terminals: Araneta City – Farmers Plaza; San Pedro – Pacita Complex
Service Areas: Makati, Manila, Muntinlupa, Quezon City, San Pedro
Route Number 54: Navotas to Pandacan
Originally a pre-pandemic Pandacan – Quiapo via C. Palanca route. Most buses terminate at Quiapo or Lawton.
Terminals: Navotas – Navotas City Terminal; Pandacan – Pandacan Transport Terminal
Service Areas: Caloocan, Malabon, Manila, Navotas
Route Number 55: PITx to Lancaster New City
Originally a point-to-point bus route.
Terminals: General Trias – Lancaster New City; Bay City – Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange
Service Areas: General Trias, Imus, Kawit, Parañaque
Route Number 56: Antipolo to BGC via C5, Marcos Highway
Terminals: Antipolo – Robinsons Antipolo; Bonifacio Global City – Venice Grand Canal Mall
Service Areas: Antipolo, Cainta, Makati, Marikina, Pasig, Quezon City, Taguig
Route Number 57: Antipolo to BGC via C6
Terminals: Antipolo – Robinsons Antipolo; Bonifacio Global City – Venice Grand Canal Mall
Service Areas: Antipolo, Cainta, Makati, Pasig, Taguig, Taytay
Route Number 58: BGC to Southwoods
Terminals: Bonifacio Global City – Venice Grand Canal Mall; Biñan – Southwoods Mall
Service Areas: Biñan, Taguig
Route Number 59: Ayala to Southwoods
Terminals: Makati CBD – One Ayala; Biñan – Southwoods Mall
Service Areas: Biñan, Makati
Route Number 60: Alabang to Naic via Governor’s Drive
Terminals: Alabang – Starmall Alabang; Naic – Naic Grand Central Terminal
Service Areas: Carmona, Dasmariñas, General Mariano Alvarez, General Trias, Muntinlupa, Naic, Silang, Tanza, Trece Martires
Route Number 61: Cubao to Dasmariñas via C5, Governor’s Drive
Originally a provincial bus route.
Terminals: Araneta City – Farmers Plaza; Dasmariñas – SM City Dasmariñas
Service Areas: Carmona, Dasmariñas, General Mariano Alvarez, Makati, Pasig, Quezon City, Taguig
Route Number 62: Pasay to Arca South
Originally Arca South-BGC route of BGC Bus which remains operational, but does not terminate at Gil Puyat Avenue.
Terminals: Pasay – Gil Puyat station; Western Bicutan – Arca South
Service Areas: Makati, Pasay, Taguig
Route Number 63: Ayala to BGC Loop
Originally pre-pandemic Ayala Express and East Express routes of BGC Bus. Most buses still terminate at EDSA-Ayala (McKinley Exchange Corporate Center) and/or Market! Market!, depending on the route.
Terminals: Makati CBD – RCBC Plaza; Bonifacio Global City – Market! Market!
Service Areas: Makati, Taguig
Route Number 64: Sta. Maria to North Edsa via A. Bonifacio, Quezon Avenue
Originally a pre-pandemic Sta. Maria-Santolan via EDSA route.
Terminals: Diliman – SM North EDSA; Santa Maria – Caypombo
Service Areas: Bocaue, Caloocan, Quezon City, Santa Maria
Route Number PNR 1: FTI to Divisoria via East Service Road
Augmentation for Tutuban-FTI route.
Terminals: Western Bicutan – Arca South; Tondo – Divisoria
Service Areas: Makati, Manila, Taguig
Route Number PNR 2: Alabang to Divisoria via South Luzon Expressway
Augmentation for Tutuban-Alabang route.
Terminals: Alabang – Starmall Alabang; Tondo – Divisoria
Service Areas: Makati, Manila, Muntinlupa, Parañaque
PUB Fare Matrix
There are various city bus routes covering different areas in Metro Manila for commuters. The city buses that run through these routes regulate the fares based on the minimum fare of P12.00 plus an additional increment depending on the distance traveled and zones. Express or P2P buses, on the other hand, have a fixed flat rate. Regardless, the law regarding fare discounts available for seniors, students, and disabled individuals apply.
Getting Bus Tickets
Getting a bus ticket generally requires purchasing from the conductor. However, some operators offer contactless options. Some buses, just like the EDSA Carousel, use smart cards for fare payments. For long-distance trips, some bus companies allow buying of tickets in advance online or at the terminal.
Summary
Getting around Metro Manila via bus is, perhaps, one of the most affordable and convenient ways to do so. Not only do you help save the environment by not using a private car, but you get to save money and enjoy the experience of riding a bus. Just make sure you check this list of bus routes and terminals first, and don’t forget to bring your wallet with you.