13t'' CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
S E N A T E  
n 
Introduced by Senator Aquilino Q. Pinzentel, Jr. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to prohibit the issuance of low-numbered protocol or courtesy or 
vanity plates for high rai-king goverivnent 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 re4sponsibility, integrity, loyalty and efficiency, 
act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives. 
Many high ranking government 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-nuinbered car plates sinack of delusions of graiideus. 
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 arc to be followed by all. They should 
lead by example. 
Hence, the passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 
AQUILINO Q. PIMENTEL, JR. 


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13" CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. 
AN ACT 
PROTOCOL LICENSE PLATES ON VEHICLES OF RANKING 
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS 
BANNING THE ISSUANCE AND USE OF LOW-NUMBERED 
SECTION 1. 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 government officials are hereby banned. All low-numbered 
license plates starting from No. 2, all the way down to the numbers now being 
assigned to Cabinet members and bureau directors issued in the past are hereby 
cancelled and deemed withdrawn. 
SEC. 3. Desistancefrom 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 (fl0,000.00), to maximum of Fitty 
thousand pesos (P50,OOO.OO) 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 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,