Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS:

First Regular Sessian,
HOUSE BILL No. 3805

Introduced by Honorable ROSENDA ANN OCAMPO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to prohibit the assignment and issuance of low-numbered.
or protocol license plates for motor vehicles of government officials.

Section 1 of Artic

XI of the 1987 Constitution provides that:

“Section 1. 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.”

The special privilege for the exclusive use of low-numbered or protocol
license plates for motor vehicles of officials of the country and accredited
representatives of foreign states dates back to the time of former President
Carlos P. Garcia when he issued Executive Order No. 287, Series of 1958,
which regulated the registration and assignment of number plates to motor
vehicles used by officials of the Republic of the Philippines and accredited
representatives of foreign states.

Since then, the granting of this privilege has continued when several other
presidential orders and administrative orders were issued regarding the
registration, assignment, issuance and regulation of low-numbered or protocol
license plates for motor vehicles of high-ranking government officials. At
present, the assignment and issuance of low numbered or protocol license
plates to motor vehicles used by officials of government is regulated by the



Land Transportation Office pursuant to Executive Order Nos. 400 and 400-A
issued on January 17, 2005 and September 6, 2006, respectively

Recently, there have been news reports of abuses by users of low-
numbered or protocol license plates. Motor vehicles using low-numbered or
protocol license plates have been spotted in some indecent places or figured in
crime-related activities. It has also been observed that many users of motor
vehicles bearing low-numbered or protocol license plates use their vehicles to
avoid apprehension for violation of traffic laws and local ordinances. For a
long time now, the use of low-numbered or protocol license plates has
generated a negative impression from the public as it has been associated with
privilege and abusive behavior.

Even President Rodrigo R. Duterte has expressed that he and his Cabinet
members will not use protocol license plates on their respective motor
vehicles.

This proposed measure seeks to prohibit the assignment and issuance of
low-numbered or protocol license plates for motor vehicles of government
officials. Further, it seeks to recall all low-numbered or protocol license plates
already issued,

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is eamnestly sought.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL No. 3905

Introduced by Honorable ROSENDA ANN OCAMPO.

AN ACT
PROHIBITING THE ASSIGNMENT AND ISSUANCE OF LOW-
NUMBERED OR PROTOCOL LICENSE PLATES FOR MOTOR
VEHICLES OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

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

SECTION 1.  Prohibition—The assignment and issuance of low-
numbered or protocol license plates for motor vehicles of government officials
are hereby prohibited. All low-numbered or protocol license plates for motor
vehicles previously issued by the Land Transportation Office to all government
officials are hereby cancelled and withdrawn.

SEC. 2, Recall. ~ Within thirty (30) days after the effectivity of this Act,
the Land Transportation Office shall issue the rules and regulations for the
systematic, orderly and organized recall and return of all low-numbered or
protocol license plates and the issuance of the regular vehicle license plates

for the motor vehicles of affected government officials.


SEC, 3, Repealing Clause. ~ Executive Order No. 400, Series of 2005,
Executive Order No, 400-A, Series of 2006, Department Order No. 2015-13
dated 19 May 2015 and Department Order No, 2014-004 dated 7 January 2014
are hereby repealed. All other laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, or
parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed,
amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 4. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation

Approved,