Only in Metro Manila are buses used for transport within the city, and they only ply the main routes of the metropolis. There is no unified network of buses in Metro Manila nor a central bus terminal. Instead, there are many private bus companies plying routes they deem profitable, each with their own terminal.

The buses of each company operating in Metro Manila can be recognized by their colour. The DMTC buses are yellow with a blue stripe, the MMTC buses are blue with a white stripe, the JD buses are bright red, and so on. This is convenient because one can identify the buses from afar by their colour whereas the signboard giving the destination is sometimes hardly readable.

Generally, Metro Manila buses are not as comfortable as the buses in European or US cities. They have little leg-space, are furnished with small benches, and often are crowded. But for the same reason they are exceptionally cheap.

On selected routes within Metro Manila one can travel in style on the blue love buses which have aircon and soft and more spacious seats and often are half empty. Current fare is P10.00 + P1.00 for every successive km. Smoking is not allowed on Love buses. The current fare for non-aircon buses is P8.00 + P1.50 for every successive km

Bus Services Extending outside Manila

There is a bus service that will take you from Manila to just about anywhere in the Philippine Islands. Some will even transport you on ferries where required.

Below is a list of some of the bus companies including contact details, routes and destinations.

1. Aladdin Transit Corporation
Location: 1310 Espana Cnr. Galicia Streets, Sampaloc, Manila
Destinations: Cagayan Valley in Region in the extreme north of Luzon.
Telephone Number: + 63 2 743 8523; + 63 2 781 9168

2. Autobus Transport Systems Incorporated
Location: Dimasalang Street Cnr. Laong Laan Street, Sampaloc, Manila
Destinations: Baguio, Laoag, Cagayan Valley, Dagupan, Ifugao, Kalinga & Isabela provinces.
Telephone Numbers: +63 2 735 8098

3. Baliwag Transit Incorporated
Location: 199 Rizal Avenue Extension, Cnr 2nd Avenue, Caloocan City, Manila
Destinations: Baliwag, Cababatuan in Nueva Ecija Province, San Jose del Monte in Bulacan Province. All in the far north of Luzon.
Telephone Numbers: + 63 2 364 0860 + 63 2 363 4478, + 63 2 363 4431, + 63 2 364 0778, + 63 2 365 7886

4. Baliwag Transit Incorporated
Location: 33 Edsa, Cubao, Quezon City.
Destinations: Baliwag, San Jose del Monte in Bulacan Province and Aparri and Tuguegarao in Cagayan Province which is in the far north of Luzon Island.
Telephone Numbers: + 63 2 912 3343, + 63 2 912 3349, + 63 2 912 3361

5. BLTB – Batangas Laguna Tayabas Bus Company
Location: Edsa Pasay City
Destinations: Calamba in Laguna province, Nasugbu in Batangas province, Lucena in Quezon province, Legaspi in Albay province, Naga in Camarines Sur province and Sorsogon province. BLTB will also travel into, Leyte & Samar.
Telephone Numbers: + 63 2 833 5508, + 63 2 833 5501, + 63 2 913 1525

6. Dagupan Bus Lines
Location: New York Street, Cubao, Quezon City, Manila
Destinations: Dagupan, Alaminos, Lingayen in Pangasinan province and further north to Baguio City and Benguet province. Both these provinces are in central Luzon.
Telephone Numbers: + 63 2 727 2330, + 63 2 929 6123, + 63 2 928 5639, + 63 2 727 2330, + 63 2 727 2287

7. Dangwa Tranco Company Incorporated
Location: 1600 Dimasalang Street, Sampaloc, Manila.
Location: 832 Aurora Boulevard, Cubao.
Destinations: Both terminals have bus transport Philippines to Benguet province and Ifugao Province in the Cordillera Administrative Region in the northern central area of Luzon.
Telephone Numbers: + 63 2 731 2879, + 63 2 410 1991

8. Dominion Transit
Location: New York Street, Cubao, Quezon City
Destinations: The provinces of Abra, La Union and Ilocos Sur on the north west coast of Luzon.
Telephone Numbers: + 63 2 741 4146, + 63 2 731 4180

9. Farinas Transit Company
Location: Laong Laan cnr and M dela Fuente Streets, Sampaloc, Manila
Destinations: The city of Vigan in Ilocos Sur province and the city of Laoag in Ilocos Norte province on the north western Luzon.
Telephone Numbers: + 63 2 731 4507, + 63 2 731 4375, + 63 2 743 8580

10. Five Star Bus Company
Location: Aurora Boulevard, Pasay City, Manila
Destinations: Dagupan and Bolinao in Pangasinan province, Cabanatuan in Nueva Ecija province in the north of Luzon island.
Telephone Numbers: +63 2 833 8339, +63 2 833 3009

11. Franco Frederico Lines
Location: Sampaloc Manila.
Destinations: The provinces of Ilocos Sur & Ilocos Norte in the north of Luzon.
Telephone Numbers: +63 2 731 4473, +63 2 731 2584

12. Inland Trailways Incorporated
Location: Edsa, Pasay City, Manila.
Destinations: The city of Legaspi in Albay province, Lucena City in Quezon province, Naga City in Camarines Sur province and Sorsogon province all in the southern end of Luzon.
Telephone Numbers: +63 2 833 6280.

13. JAM Transit
Location: Taft Avenue, Pasay City, Manila.
Location: New York Street, Cubao, Quezon City.
Destinations: Batangas, Quezon and Laguna provinces south of Manila.
Telephone Numbers: +63 2 541 4409, +63 2 924 7712, +63 2 831 4390.

14. JB Line Bicol Express
Location: Aurora Boulevard, Pasay City.
Destinations: The city of Legaspi in Albay province, Lucena City in Quezon province and Naga City in Camarines Sur province in southern Luzon.
Telephone Numbers: +63 2 833 2949.

15. Maria de Leon Transit
Location: Corner Gelinos and Dapitan Streets, Sampaloc, Manila.
Destinations: City of San Fernando in La Union province, Vigan City in Ilocos Sur province and Laoag City in Ilocos Norte province all on the north western coast of Luzon.
Telephone Numbers: +63 2 731 4907.

16. Partas Transportation Company Incorporated
Location: 816 Aurora Boulevard, Cubao, Quezon City.
Destinations: To the city of Baguio, Benguet province, Bangued in Abra province, Laoag City in Ilocos Norte province, San Fernando in La Union Province and the city of Vigan in Ilocos Sur province. All in the north west coast and Cordillera mountains of Luzon.
Telephone Numbers: +63 2 725 7303, +63 2 724 9820.

17. Philippine Rabbit Business Lines Incorporated
Location: Edsa, Quezon City.
Destinations: The city of Bangued in Abra province, Laoag City in Ilocos Norte province, City of San Fernando in La Union Province, Tarlac province and Vigan City in Ilocos Sur province all provinces are on the north western coast of Luzon.
Telephone Numbers: +63 2 734 9836, +63 2 734 9838

18. Philtranco Service Enterprises Incorporated
Location: Edsa, Pasay City.
Destinations: south to Daet in Camarines Norte province, Legaspi City in Albay province, Lucena in Quezon province, Naga in Camarines Sur province and Sorsogon province all to the south of Manila on the southern end of Luzon.
Also travels via ferry across to Samar Island and through Leyte and onto Davao City on Mindanao Island.
Telephone Numbers: +63 2 832 2456, +63 2 833 1369, +63 2 833 5061

19. Tritran Transit Incorporated
Location: Edsa, Quezon City, Manila
Destinations: Batangas and Quezon provinces to the south of Manila on Luzon Island.
Telephone Numbers: +63 2 925 1758, +63 2 925 1759

20. Victory Liner Incorporated
Location: Edsa, Pasay City, Manila
Location 713 Rizal Avenue Extension, Caloocan City
Location: Edsa, Cubao
Destinations: Olongapo and Iba Cities in Zambales province, Tarlac province, San Fernando in La Union province, Baguio City, Benguet province, Alaminos, Bolinao and Dagupan cities in Pangasinan province and Tuguegarao and Aparri towns in Cagayan province. All in the north of Manila on Luzon.
Telephone Numbers: +63 2 833 0293, +63 2 833 5019, +63 2 361 4665, +63 2 741 1439, +63 2 361 1506, +63 2 361 1510

21. Viron Transportation Company Incorporated
Location: Corner 1209 Blumentritt and Dapitan Streets, Sampaloc, Manila.
Destinations: The city of Tarlac, Dagupan City in Pangasinan province, San Fernando in La Union province and Vigan City in Ilocos Sur province all in the north of Luzon.
Telephone Numbers: +63 2 741 6588