MANILA, Philippines -- Buses in Metro Manila will be the first to charge increased fares after the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) agreed to release the new fare matrix to them on Friday.

In a text message, LTFRB chairman Thompson Lantion said the new fare of P10 for the first five kilometers and P1.95 for each succeeding kilometer for regular buses, and P12 for the first five kilometers and P2.35 for the succeeding kilometers for air-conditioned buses, can be charged on receiving the new fare matrix.

Jeepneys nationwide can charge the new fare of P8.50 for the first four kilometers and P1.50 for each succeeding kilometer on Monday, July 14.

Taxis can begin charging the P10 “add on rates” 15 days after receiving their stickers, Lantion said.

Provincial bus operators have filed a separate fare hike petition which remains pending.

Earlier, LTFRB executive director Manny Mahipus clarified that the LTFRB board would be officially signing and approving the petitions late today, although these would remain “subject to compliance.”

This means the agency will still have to come up with the fare matrices for jeepneys and Metro Manila buses and a notice sticker for taxis.

These new fare guides will be distributed to legitimate transport groups, Mahipus stressed.

He said the LTFRB would draft the fare matrices on Wednesday.

“In fact mago-overtime kami [we will go on overtime] starting today until this weekend para malabas ang [so that we can come out with a] fare matrix at the soonest possible time,” Mahipus said.

He said drafting the new fare matrix would be a long process. In Metro Manila alone, there are 60,000 jeepneys plying 900 routes, Mahipus said.

But he said the agency would try to start distributing the fare matrix to jeepneys on Monday, while taxis can obtain their stickers within two weeks.

He stressed that drivers and operators cannot charge the new fare without posting the fare matrix or sticker on their vehicles.

“You’ll have to get a valid fare guide to start collecting new fare,” Mahipus said.

He added that the agency is working closely with traffic enforcers to monitor drivers who charge increased fares without a matrix.

“We are also consulting with transport groups to police their own ranks,” Mahipus added.

He said transport groups who wish to file another fare increase petition should not act on speculation.

“We are trying our best to provide reasonable fare adjustment, to increase the return of investment of the drivers, and to balance it with the interest of the commuters. Transport groups should not act purely on speculations about increasing oil prices,” Mahipus said.