THE government of Sweden, through its development finance institution Swedfund, and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) have signed a grant agreement to help improve the country’s public bus system through the development of national bus standards.
Under the agreement, the grant will fund the formulation of normative specifications for urban buses, including minibuses, aimed at improving safety, quality, and inclusivity in public transport across the Philippines. The standards will be aligned with international best practices while being adapted to local transport conditions.
Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said the signing of the agreement between the Philippines and Sweden affirms the government's goal to move more people with the continued development of Philippine bus standards.
He added that the initiative reflects a shift away from a car-centric model toward more inclusive mobility.
“By improving our bus systems and public transport infrastructure, we can transport more people, help them save time spent on the road, and alleviate vehicular traffic,” Lopez said.
The project will provide the DOTr with a unified bus classification system, standard technical parameters, and functional performance-based specifications for different categories of public utility buses. It is also aligned with the DOTr’s Public Transport Modernization Program and Philippine National Standards on vehicle safety, accessibility, and environmental performance.
Swedfund has been supporting Philippine transport initiatives since 2018, providing around SEK 10 million (about P65 million) in grants for the development of the EDSA Bus Rapid Transit system, including feasibility studies, system planning, and technical reviews.
In 2025, Sweden extended its support with an additional SEK 3 million (over P19.5 million) grant to further the EDSA BRT feasibility study and deliver advanced technical assistance, including engineering designs, public-private partnership advisory services, and capacity-building programs.