BGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No. 2062
FILED
February
TtME¥NDFX
BILL?
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8506 ENTITLED "AN ACT BANNING THE 
REGISTRATION AND OPERATION OF VEHICLES WITH RIGHT-HAND 
STEERING WHEEL IN ANY PRIVATE OR PUBLIC STREET, ROAD OR 
HIGHWAY, PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES"
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Philippines is a signatory to the 2009 Memorandum of Understanding 
(MOU) between Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines (BIMP) 
on Transit and Inter-State Transport of Goods. This MOU provides for various 
mechanisms and interventions for the promotion, development, and enhancement of 
trade and investment among the BIMP - East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) 
through the facilitation of inter-state transport of goods and goods in transit among 
the participating States. Specifically, Section 4.2.2 of this MOU declares that the 
operation of right and left hand-drive road vehicles be allowed, provided that special 
permit for such operation is obtained from the relevant Transit and Host Countries.
However, the current law. Republic Act No. 8506, provides that vehicles with 
right-hand steering wheel cannot be registered and operated in any private or public 
street, road or highway. Complete ban against the same is contrary to the free 
movement of goods and connectivity of the country's RO-RO connectivity with ASEAN 
countries. In view thereof, this bill seeks to amend the current law by allowing 
temporary admission of right hand-drive private road vehicles from ASEAN countries


provided that a separate special motor vehicle operation permit for the vehicle and 
special license for the driver are issued by the Department of Transportation,
In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly request©
M. LAPID
Senator


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No. 2062
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
February
TIME¥NDEX
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AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8506 ENTITLED "AN ACT BANNING THE 
REGISTRATION AND OPERATION OF VEHICLES WITH RIGHT-HAND 
STEERING WHEEL IN ANY PRIVATE OR PUBLIC STREET, ROAD OR 
HIGHWAY, PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES"
Be It enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
In Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. A new Section 2 of Republic Act No. 8506 is hereby inserted to 
read as follows:
"SECTION 2. ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS 
(ASEAN) - REGISTERED PRIVATE RIGHT HAND-DRIVE MOTOR 
VEHICLES, INCLUDING TWO, THREE OR FOUR-WHEEL 
MOTORCYCLES, OR MOTORCYCLES WITH SIDE CARS; TOURIST 
VANS OR BUSES CARRYING TOURISTS FROM ANOTHER 
COUNTRY; AND DELIVERY TRUCKS OR LORRIES CARRYING 
GOODS FROM ANY ASEAN COUNTRY, MAY BE ALLOWED ENTRY 
AND OPERATION IN ANY HIGHWAY, STREET OR ROAD, 
WHETHER PRIVATE OR PUBLIC OR OF THE NATIONAL OR LOCAL 
GOVERNMENT: PROVIDED, THAT A SEPARATE SPECIAL MOTOR 
VEHICLE OPERATION PERMIT FOR THE VEHICLE AND SPECIAL 
LICENSE FOR THE DRIVER ARE ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF


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TRANSPORTATION (DOTR), OR ANY PUBLIC OFFICE WITH DOTR 
- DELEGATED AUTHORITY, EACH IN FAVOR OF THE MOTOR 
VEHICLE AND THE DESIGNATED DRIVER AT THE PORT OF ENTRY 
FOR A LIMITED DURATION AND SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS AS 
SET FORTH BY THIS ACT."
SECTION 2. A new Section 3 of Republic Act No. 8506 is hereby inserted to 
read as follows:
"SECTION 3. AS A CONDITION FOR THE ISSUANCE OF A SPECIAL 
PERMIT AND LICENSE TO OPERATE RIGHT HAND-DRIVE MOTOR 
VEHICLES WITHIN PHILIPPINE JURISDICTION, THE 
DESIGNATED DRIVER SHALL PRESENT THE VEHICLE'S 
CURRENT-YEAR ASEAN MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION AND 
HIS OR HER DRIVER'S LICENSE ISSUED BY THE COUNTRY THAT 
ISSUED HIS PASSPORT AT THE PORT OF ENTRY. SUCH 
REGISTRATION AND LICENSE MUST BE VALID WITHIN THE 
DURATION OF THE PERMIT AND LICENSE THAT MAY BE ISSUED 
IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AND COMPLIANT WITH PHILIPPINE 
LAND TRANSPORTATION LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS: 
PROVIDED, THAT THE ASEAN COUNTRY OF REGISTRATION OF 
THE MOTOR VEHICLE EXTENDS RECIPROCAL RIGHTS TO 
PHILIPPINE-REGISTERED MOTOR VEHICLES: PROVIDED 
FINALLY, THAT THE DESIGNATED DRIVER IS A NATIONAL OF A 
COUNTRY THAT ACCORDS RECIPROCAL RIGHTS TO NATIONALS 
OF THE PHILIPPINES."
SECTION 3. New sections are hereby inserted to read as follows:
"SECTION 4. THE SPECIAL MOTOR VEHICLE OPERATION PERMIT 
AND SPECIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE TO BE ISSUED SHALL HAVE A 
VALIDITY OF NOT MORE THAN THIRTY (30) DAYS FROM THE


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DATE OF ENTRY IF THE PURPOSE IS TO FERRY TOURISTS, AND 
NOT MORE THAN SEVEN (7) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF ENTRY IF 
THE PURPOSE IS TO DELIVER GOODS: PROVIDED, THAT NO 
DELIVERY TRUCKS OR LORRIES CARRYING PASSENGERS SHALL 
BE ALLOWED ENTRY OR OPERATION: PROVIDED FURTHER, 
THAT THE ENTRY OF TOURIST VANS OR BUSES CARRYING 
GOODS ONLY SHALL BE TREATED AS ENTRY FOR DELIVERY OF 
GOODS: PROVIDED HNALLY, THAT THE COMMERCIAL 
TRANSPORT OF GOODS OR PASSENGERS ORIGINATING FROM 
ONE POINT AND ENDING IN ANOTHER POINT AND USING THE 
SPECIAL MOTOR VEHICLE OPERATION PERMIT AND SPECIAL 
DRIVER'S LICENSE ISSUED UNDER THIS ACT, BOTH OF WHICH 
ARE WITHIN PHILIPPINE JURISDICTION, SHALL AT ALL TIMES 
BE PROHIBITED."
"SECTION 5. THE PORT OF ENTRY OF THE ASEAN-REGISTERED 
RIGHT HAND-DRIVE MOTOR VEHICLES SPECIALLY EXEMPTED 
UNDER THIS ACT SHALL BE RESTRICTED TO THE DECLARED 
INTERNATIONAL PORTS IN MINDANAO AND PALAWAN, AND 
SUCH OTHER INTERNATIONAL PORTS AS MAY LATER BE 
RECOGNIZED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION."
"SECTION 6. UNLESS OTHERWISE EXEMPTED UNDER ANY 
INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT OR CONVENTION AS WITH ASEAN 
PASSPORT-HOLDERS, DRIVERS OF ASEAN-REGISTERED RIGHT 
HAND-DRIVE MOTOR VEHICLES SPECIALLY EXEMPTED UNDER 
THIS ACT SHALL BE REQUIRED TO PRESENT PHILIPPINE VISAS: 
PROVIDED, THAT THEIR PASSPORTS SHALL AT ALL TIMES BE 
VALID UNDER PHIUPPINE LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS 
WITHIN THE DURATION OF THEIR STAY IN THE COUNTRY."
"SECTION 7. FOR THE SAFETY, CONVENIENCE, AND SECURITY


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OF VISITORS AND PHILIPPINE RESIDENTS, THE PRIVILEGES 
GRANTED UNDER THIS ACT SHALL AT ALL TIMES BE LIMITED BY 
PHILIPPINE LAND TRANSPORTATION, CUSTOMS, 
IMMIGRATION, QUARANTINE, SECURITY, AND OTHER 
APPLICABLE LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS."
SECTION 4. Sections 2 and 3 of Republic Act No. 8506 are hereby renumbered 
as Sections 8 and 9 to read as follows:
"Section [2] 8. The penalty priston coireccional\x\ its medium period and 
a fine of fifty thousand pesos (P50/000) shall be imposed upon any person 
violating the provisions of this Act."
"Section [3] 9. This Act shall take effect Immediately after its complete 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers 
of general circulation."
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect Immediately after Its complete publication 
in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,