FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —)
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

940

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to prohibit the issuance of low-numbered protocol or courtesy
or vanity plates for high ranking government officials.

The Mandate of The Constitution cannot be over-emphasized. “Public office is
a public trust. Public officers and employees must at all times be accountable to
the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty and efficiency,
act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives.

Many high ranking goverment officials and middle-level bureaucrats today
roam our streets like members of royalty in heavily tinted vehicles sporting
low-numbered car plates. They evoke a false impression that these favored few
are exempt and insulated from the reach of traffic rules and regulations.

These low-numbered car plates smack of delusions of grandeur.
There is no legitimate reason for ranking government officials to be accorded
this kind of special privilege. Since they are public servants, they should be at

the forefront in observing road regulations that are to be followed by all. They
should lead by example.

Hence, the passage of this bill is eamestly requested.

RUFUS B. UEZ


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —)
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

House Bill No. ~~

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez

AN ACT
BANNING THE ISSUANCE AND USE OF LOW-NUMBERED PROTOCOL
LICENSE PLATES ON VEHICLES OF RANKING GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 4. Policy. - The recognition of equal rights for all people is
essential to a democratic republic. It shall be the policy of the State to promote
such equality for the general welfare.

SEC. 2. Ban. — The issuance and use of low-numbered license plates for
vehicles of ranking goverment officials are hereby banned. All low-numbered
license plates starting from No. 6, all the way down to the numbers now being
assigned to bureau directors issued in the past are hereby cancelled and deemed
withdrawn,

SEC. 3. Desistance from Issuance. — Upon the effectivity of this Act, the
Land Transportation Office shall forthwith desist from issuing protocol or
courtesy, or vanity, or low-numbered license plates for the official use of high
government officials or other persons.

SEC. 4. Penalties. -Any person driving or using low numbered license

plates on his or her vehicle after the effectivity of this Act shall, upon conviction,


be fined a minimum of Ten thousand pesos (F 10,000.00), to maximum of Fifty
thousand pesos (F50,000.00) or imprisonment of one month and one day as
minimum to six (6) months as maximum. Any official or employee of the Land
Transportation Office who shall issue or cause the issuance of protocol, courtesy,
or vanity, or low numbered license plates shall be subject to the same penalties
provided in the preceding paragraph.

SEC. 5. Exemptions. —The official vehicles of the President, Vice-
President, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court and those of representatives of foreign states, as
provided by any treaty, agreement or protocol sanctioned by international law or
practice shall likewise be exempted from the ban on the use of protocol plates.
These exemptions shall not apply to representatives of foreign states or
international organizations that do not grant Filipino diplomatic representatives
similar privileges,

SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. All laws and executive orders, rules and
regulations, or any part thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this
Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 7. Separability Clause. -In case any provision of this Act is
declared unconstitutional, such declaration shall not affect the other provisions,
which shall remain valid.

SEC. 8. Effectivity. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.