There will be no more fare increases this year despite new rounds of oil price hikes, according to a Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) board member.

No transport group has filed a petition for a fare increase although some transport leaders have been threatening to do so in media, said LTFRB board member Ma. Ellen Dirige-Cabatu.

“No one has filed for a new petition so there is nothing to approve,” Cabatu said.

“We only have the pending (petition) filed before, which is not finally resolved by the board,” she added.

Diesel — the fuel used by most jeepneys and buses in the country—is now retailed at P31 per liter in Metro Manila and even higher in the Visayas and Mindanao.

The Arroyo government, however, asked oil firms to provide more discounts to jeepneys and buses to prevent an adjustment of fares which usually also leads to hikes in prices of prime commodities.

In Metro Manila and nearby provinces, the minimum jeepney fare is currently at P7 which covers the first four kilometers traveled. In some parts of the country such as in the Visayas, jeepneys charge a lower minimum fare.