Metro Manila Bus Routes: A Guide

Metro Manila is a vibrant and dynamic metropolis, home to millions of people and an array of transportation options. Among these, the bus system plays a crucial role in keeping the city moving. With an extensive network of routes connecting key districts and areas, buses offer an affordable and accessible means of transport for daily commuters and visitors alike.

This guide provides a detailed look at the Metro Manila bus system, covering essential information, tips, and insights to help both regular riders and newcomers navigate the city with ease. Whether you’re heading to work, school, or exploring the city for the first time, understanding how the bus system works will make your travel more efficient and stress-free.

Research Methodology

The information presented in this guide was gathered from official websites and reliable sources, ensuring accuracy and relevance for commuters and travelers in Metro Manila.

Types of Buses

Metro Manila’s bus system offers a range of bus types to meet various commuter needs and preferences. These include:

• Standard Public Utility Buses (PUBs): The most common and widely used buses in Metro Manila, PUBs are available in two options: air-conditioned (more comfortable) and ordinary (cheaper but often crowded). PUBs are affordable, accessible, and serve as the primary mode of transportation for many daily commuters.
• Point-to-Point (P2P) Buses: Designed for convenience, P2P buses offer non-stop or limited-stop services, typically connecting major malls, business districts, and transport hubs. While these buses provide a faster, more direct travel option, they tend to be pricier compared to standard PUBs.
• EDSA Carousel: This Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system operates on a dedicated lane along EDSA, reducing delays typically caused by heavy traffic. With fewer stops and a cashless fare system, the EDSA Carousel offers a quicker and more efficient commute, making it a preferred choice for those travelling along this key thoroughfare.

Bus Fares

Bus fares in Metro Manila are generally affordable, with a mix of distance-based and zonal systems. The minimum fare for ordinary buses is typically ₱12, while air-conditioned buses have a minimum fare of around ₱13.  

Fare discounts are available for students, senior citizens, and disabled individuals.  

Frequency of Buses

Bus frequency in Metro Manila varies depending on the time of day and the route. During peak hours, buses run more frequently to accommodate the high volume of passengers, while off-peak hours may see fewer buses. Despite this, buses generally have short waiting times on most routes throughout the day.

Hours of Operation

Most buses in Metro Manila operate from early morning until late at night, ensuring commuters have transport options throughout the day. Some routes even provide 24-hour service to cater to those travelling during late-night or early-morning hours. However, availability may be limited during these late hours, especially for non-major routes.

EDSA Carousel

The EDSA Carousel is an essential component of Metro Manila’s public transport system, offering a faster and more efficient alternative to regular buses. This Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system runs along EDSA, one of the city’s busiest roads, and helps avoid delays caused by heavy traffic. The Carousel operates on dedicated bus lanes with strategically placed stops, allowing for smoother and more predictable commutes.

Operating 24/7, the EDSA Carousel’s fares range from ₱15 to ₱75.50, depending on the distance travelled. This makes it a popular choice for both daily commuters and those travelling longer distances along the EDSA corridor.

List of Bus Routes in Metro Manila

Metro Manila’s bus network is vast and continuously evolving, with new routes being introduced and existing ones being modified regularly. Below is a list of the current bus routes operating in Metro Manila, as of December 29, 2024: 

Route Number	Route Name	Starting Point	Ending Point	Service Area
1	EDSA Carousel (Route E)	Caloocan – Monumento	Bay City – Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange	Caloocan, Makati, Mandaluyong, Parañaque, Pasay, Quezon City
2	Angono to Quiapo via Ortigas Avenue	Angono	Quiapo	Angono, Cainta, Mandaluyong, Manila, Pasig, Quezon City, San Juan, Taytay
3	Antipolo to Quiapo via Aurora Boulevard	Antipolo	Quiapo	Antipolo, Cainta, Manila, Marikina, Pasig, Quezon City, San Juan
4	PITx to BGC via Buendia Avenue	McKinley Hill – Venice Grand Canal Mall	Bay City – Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange	Parañaque, Pasay, Taguig
5	North Luzon Express Terminal (NLET) to PITx	Santa Maria – North Luzon Express Terminal (NLET)	Bay City – Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange	Bocaue, Manila, Parañaque, Pasay, Quezon City, Santa Maria
6	Sapang Palay to PITx via Quezon Avenue	Norzagaray – Sapang Palay	Bay City – Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange	Caloocan, Manila, Norzagaray, Parañaque, Pasay, Quezon City, San Jose del Monte
7	Fairview (Nova Stop) to PITx via Quezon Avenue	Novaliches – SM City Fairview	Bay City – Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange	Manila, Parañaque, Pasay, Quezon City
8	Angat to Divisoria	Angat – Angat Public Market	Tondo – Divisoria	Angat, Bocaue, Caloocan, Manila, Norzagaray, Quezon City, Santa Maria
9	Angat to Monumento	Angat – Angat Public Market	Caloocan – Monumento	Angat, Bocaue, Caloocan, Norzagaray, Santa Maria
10	Ayala to Alabang	Makati CBD – One Ayala	Alabang – Vista Terminal Exchange	Makati, Muntinlupa, Parañaque
11	Balibago to Pasay	Pasay – Gil Puyat station	Santa Rosa – Santa Rosa Commercial Complex	Makati, Pasay, Santa Rosa
12	Biñan to Pasay	Pasay – Gil Puyat station	Biñan – JAC Liner Biñan Terminal	Biñan, Makati, Muntinlupa, Pasay, San Pedro
13	Bagong Silang to Sta. Cruz via Malinta Exit	Caloocan – Bagong Silang	Santa Cruz – Avenida Bus Terminal	Caloocan, Manila, Quezon City, Valenzuela
14	Balagtas to PITx	Balagtas – Metrolink Bus Corp. Terminal	Bay City – Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange	Balagtas, Bocaue, Caloocan, Malabon, Manila, Marilao, Meycauayan, Parañaque, Pasay, Valenzuela
15	BGC to Pacita; BGC to Balibago	Bonifacio Global City – Market! Market!	San Pedro – Pacita Complex; Santa Rosa – Santa Rosa Commercial Complex	Muntinlupa, San Pedro, Taguig; Santa Rosa, Taguig
16	Eastwood Libis to Marriott Terminal via Acropolis	Quezon City – Eastwood City	Pasay – Marriott Terminal	Makati, Pasay, Pasig, Quezon City, Taguig
17	Fairview to Ayala via Quezon Avenue	Novaliches – SM City Fairview	Makati CBD – One Ayala	Makati, Manila, Pasay, Quezon City
18	SM North to BGC to PITx	Quezon City – SM City North EDSA	Bay City – Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange	Manila, Parañaque, Pasay, Quezon City, Taguig
19	Norzagaray FVR to Santa Cruz via Marilao Exit	Norzagaray – Sapang Palay	Santa Cruz – Avenida Bus Terminal	Manila, Marilao, Norzagaray, Quezon City, San Jose del Monte
20	Sapang Palay to Sta. Cruz via Malinta Exit	Norzagaray – Sapang Palay	Santa Cruz – Avenida Bus Terminal	Caloocan, Manila, Norzagaray, Quezon City, Valenzuela
21	Sapang Palay to Santa Cruz via Bocaue Exit	San Jose del Monte – Sapang Palay	Santa Cruz – Avenida Bus Terminal	Bocaue, Manila, Quezon City, San Jose del Monte
22	Sta. Maria to PITx via NLEX, R-10, Roxas Boulevard	Sta. Maria	Bay City – Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange	Bocaue, Manila, Parañaque, Pasay, Quezon City, Santa Maria
23	Alabang to Plaza Lawton via Alabang-Zapote Road	Muntinlupa – Alabang South Station	Manila – Liwasang Bonifacio	Manila, Muntinlupa, Parañaque
24	Alabang to Plaza Lawton via SSH	Muntinlupa – Alabang South Station	Manila – Liwasang Bonifacio	Makati, Manila, Muntinlupa
25	Biñan to Plaza Lawton	Biñan – JAC Liner Biñan Terminal	Manila – Liwasang Bonifacio	Biñan, Makati, Manila, Muntinlupa
26	PITx to Cavite City	Bay City – Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange	Cavite City	Cavite City, Parañaque
27	Dasmariñas to Lawton	Dasmariñas	Manila – Liwasang Bonifacio	Bacoor, Dasmariñas, Imus, Manila, Parañaque, Pasay
28	PITx to Naic	Bay City – Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange	Naic	Imus, Kawit, Naic, Parañaque
29	PITx to Silang	Bay City – Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange	Silang	Parañaque, Silang
30	Balibago to PITx	Santa Rosa – Santa Rosa Commercial Complex	Bay City – Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange	Parañaque, Santa Rosa
31	PITx to Trece Martires	Bay City – Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange	Trece Martires	General Trias, Imus, Kawit, Parañaque, Tanza, Trece Martires
33	PITx to GMA	Bay City – Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange	General Mariano Alvarez	General Mariano Alvarez, Parañaque
33	SJDM to North EDSA via Mindanao Avenue	San Jose del Monte – Starmall San Jose del Monte	Quezon City – North EDSA	Quezon City, San Jose del Monte
34	Montalban to PITx via Quezon Avenue	Rodriguez – Montalban	Bay City – Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange	Manila, Parañaque, Pasay, Quezon City, Rodriguez
35	Balagtas to NAIA via MacArthur Highway	Balagtas – Metrolink Bus Corp. Terminal	Pasay – Ninoy Aquino International Airport	Balagtas, Caloocan, Malabon, Manila, Marilao, Meycauayan, Navotas, Pasay, Valenzuela
36	Fairview (Nova Stop) to Alabang via C5, Commonwealth Avenue	Novaliches – Robinsons Novaliches	Muntinlupa – Starmall Alabang	Makati, Muntinlupa, Pasig, Quezon City, Taguig
37	Fairview to Monumento via Malinta Exit	Quezon City – SM City Fairview	Caloocan – Monumento	Caloocan, Quezon City, Valenzuela
38	Fairview to Pacita via Quirino Highway & Osmeña Highway	Quezon City – SM City Fairview	San Pedro – Pacita Complex	Makati, Manila, Muntinlupa, Pasay, Quezon City, San Pedro, Taguig
39	Fairview to Pacita via C5, Commonwealth Avenue	Quezon City – SM City Fairview	San Pedro – Pacita Complex	Makati, Muntinlupa, Pasig, Quezon City, San Pedro, Taguig
40	Fairview to Alabang via Ayala Avenue	Quezon City – SM City Fairview	Muntinlupa – Alabang South Station	Makati, Manila, Muntinlupa, Pasay, Quezon City
41	Fairview to FTI via Commonwealth Avenue, C5	Quezon City – SM City Fairview	Taguig – Arca South	Pasig, Quezon City, Taguig
42	Malanday to Ayala via MacArthur Highway	Valenzuela – Malanday Transport Terminal	Makati CBD – One Ayala	Caloocan, Makati, Malabon, Manila, Pasay, Valenzuela
43	PITx to NAIA Loop	Bay City – Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange	Pasay – Ninoy Aquino International Airport	Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Parañaque
44	Navotas to Alabang via Sucat Road	Navotas City – Navotas City Terminal	Muntinlupa – Alabang South Station	Manila, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay
45	FTI to Navotas via Buendia Avenue	Taguig – Arca South	Navotas City – Navotas City Terminal	Makati, Manila, Navotas, Pasay, Taguig
46	Pacita to Navotas via Ayala Avenue	San Pedro – Pacita Complex	Navotas City – Navotas City Terminal	Makati, Manila, Navotas, Pasay, San Pedro
47	Navotas Terminal to PITx	Navotas City – Navotas City Terminal	Bay City – Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange	Manila, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay
48	Pacita to Plaza Lawton	San Pedro – Pacita Complex	Manila – Liwasang Bonifacio	Makati, Manila, Pasay, San Pedro
49	SJDM to NAIA via Quezon Avenue	San Jose del Monte – Starmall San Jose del Monte	Pasay – Ninoy Aquino International Airport	Caloocan, Manila, Parañaque, Pasay, Quezon City, San Jose del Monte
50	VGC to Alabang via C5, Mindanao Avenue	Valenzuela – Valenzuela Gateway Complex	Muntinlupa – Starmall Alabang	Manila, Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Pasay, Quezon City, Taguig, Valenzuela
51	VGC to Cubao via Mindanao Avenue	Valenzuela – Valenzuela Gateway Complex	Quezon City – Farmers Plaza	Quezon City, Valenzuela
52	VGC to PITx via Dimasalang, Roxas Boulevard	Valenzuela – Valenzuela Gateway Complex	Bay City – Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange	Manila, Parañaque, Pasay, Quezon City, Valenzuela
53	Cubao to Pacita via E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue	Quezon City – Farmers Plaza	San Pedro – Pacita Complex	Muntinlupa, Pasay, Quezon City, San Pedro
54	Navotas to Pandacan	Navotas City – Navotas City Terminal	Manila – Pandacan Transport Terminal	Manila, Navotas
55	PITx to Lancaster New City	Bay City – Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange	General Trias – Lancaster New City	General Trias, Imus, Kawit, Parañaque
56	Antipolo to BGC via C5, Marcos Highway	Antipolo – SM City Masinag	Taguig – Bonifacio Global City	Antipolo, Marikina, Pasig, Taguig
57	Antipolo to BGC via C6	Antipolo – Cogeo Gate 2	Taguig – Bonifacio Global City	Antipolo, Marikina, Pasig, Taguig
58	BGC to Southwoods	Taguig – Bonifacio Global City	Biñan – Southwoods Mall	Biñan, Taguig
59	Ayala to Southwoods	Makati CBD – RCBC Plaza	Biñan – Southwoods Mall	Makati, Taguig
60	Alabang to Naic via Governor’s Drive	Muntinlupa – Starmall Alabang	Naic	Carmona, Cavite City, Dasmariñas, Imus, Muntinlupa, Naic, Silang, Trece Martires
61	Cubao to Dasmariñas via C5, Governor’s Drive	Quezon City – Farmers Plaza	Dasmariñas – SM City Dasmariñas	Carmona, Dasmariñas, General Mariano Alvarez, Makati, Pasig, Quezon City, Taguig
62	Pasay to Arca South	Pasay – Gil Puyat station	Taguig – Arca South	Pasay, Taguig
63	Ayala to BGC Loop	Makati CBD – RCBC Plaza	Taguig – Market! Market!	Makati, Taguig
64	Sta. Maria to North Edsa via A. Bonifacio, Quezon Avenue	Sta. Maria	Quezon City – North EDSA	Quezon City, Santa Maria
PNR 1	FTI to Divisoria via East Service Road	Taguig – Arca South	Tondo – Divisoria	Makati, Manila, Taguig
PNR 2	Alabang to Divisoria via South Luzon Expressway	Muntinlupa – Starmall Alabang	Tondo – Divisoria	Makati, Manila, Muntinlupa, Parañaque

Conclusion

Navigating Metro Manila’s extensive bus system can be a daunting task, but with the right information, it becomes a convenient and affordable way to explore the city. This guide has provided a comprehensive overview of the system, including the different types of buses, fare structures, major routes, and helpful resources for commuters.

By understanding the intricacies of the Metro Manila bus system, travelers and commuters can confidently traverse the urban landscape and experience the vibrant city like a local.