MANILA, Philippines -- A fare increase is “inevitable” as oil prices continue to increase, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory board (LTFRB) chairman Thompson Lantion said on Friday.

Lantion told media after the hearing for the respective petitions for increases by taxi, jeepney, and bus groups that the LTFRB board was “inclined” recommend to the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) to raise the fare for taxi, jeepneys, and buses, given the unabated increases in the prices of fuel.

Lantion said the increase would take effect either late July or early August because the LTFRB board has yet to come up with the guidelines, and he assured the public that the increase would be “reasonable.”

Earlier this Friday, Shell Philippines vice president for communications Bobby Kanapi said motorists should expect another round of oil price increases during the weekend, because “we are at the mercy of the world market.”

Pending resolution by the LTFRB board are the petitions of transport group Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston), taxi group Association of Taxi Operators of Metro Manila (ATOMM), and Metro Manila bus groups led by Integrated Metro Bus Operators (IMBOA) and Metro Manila Bus Operators Association (MMBOA).

The petition for a fare increase filed by transport group Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Fejodap) has been withdrawn.

Piston called for an P8.50 fare for jeepneys for the first four kilometers and P1.50 for the succeeding kilometers.

ATOMM is calling for an additional P10 to the final rate of taxis.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila buses are asking for a P12 fare for the first four kilometers and P2.15 for the succeeding kilometers for regular buses, and P14.50 for the first four kilometers and P3 for succeeding kilometers for air conditioned buses.

Transport groups are calling for the immediate resolution to the fare increase.

“We are asking for an immediate grant on our petition kasi mahirap na talaga [it is really difficult now]. We have been very patient with our petition and hindi sapat ang provisional increase [a provisional increase is not enough],” said Piston secretary general George San Mateo.

Philippine National Taxi Operators Association president Bong Suntay said the fare increase was “long overdue” because prices of fuel have nearly doubled since their last increase in 2003.

Although LTFRB has granted a provisional increase of P0.50 for jeepneys and P1 for buses last May, Metro Manila bus groups are asking for another provisional increase of P1.

Lantion said that they would immediately pass the resolution on the petitions, as a consumer group expressed its approval for a fare increase.

“We are in favor of a fare hike,” said Consumer and Oil Price Watch (COPW) executive staff Mark Delumen.

“We are not entirely against the fare hike, but we should set the proper parameters so as drivers would not abuse it,” said Elvina Medina, president of National Council for Commuter Protection (NCCP).

Transport groups are given another 10 days to submit their position papers before the LTFRB board could act on their petitions.