QUEZON CITY, Philippines — Addressing uncertainty and hesitation among public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers regarding the implementation of the new fare hike, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) confirmed that a downloadable fare guide is all that is currently required to charge passengers higher rates starting Monday, September 28.
The agency stated that drivers can easily access and print the fare guide directly from the official LTFRB website.
LTFRB Acting Chairman Greg Pua, Jr. issued the clarification following reports that several jeepney operators were fearful of imposing the adjusted rates without an official fare matrix displayed inside their vehicles.
Under standard regulations, displaying a fare matrix within the vehicle is mandatory prior to charging higher rates, with non-compliant drivers facing fines.
However, the agency is temporarily waiving this requirement to allow drivers to immediately benefit from the fare adjustment.
“To implement the fare hike today, what the LTFRB and the DOTr ordered is for them to have a fare guide,” Pua stated.
Unlike a traditional fare matrix, which details specific routes, the temporary fare guide provides basic computation guidelines to help both drivers and commuters calculate the correct fare.
The decision comes as transport workers struggle with mounting operational expenses triggered by consecutive oil price increases linked to ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
Although the Department of Transportation (DOTr) approved the fare increase in March 2026, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. initially suspended its rollout until the transport sector provided evidence of severe financial distress.
“We will still require the use of fare matrix but not now,” Pua noted, adding that the LTFRB will announce when the formal matrix becomes mandatory again.
Pua assured operators that when the official fare matrix is reinstated, the LTFRB will also make it available for download online to eliminate the need for drivers to visit regional offices in person.