FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator Richard J. Gordon 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The State is tasked to protect its people through the effective regulation of business 
impressed with public interest. From the nature of their business and for reasons of public 
policy, Art. 1733 of \he Civil Code of the Philippines states that common carriers are bound to 
observe extraordinaty diligence in the vigilance over the goods and for the safety of the 
passengers transported by them, according to all circumstances of each case. 
To professionalize the operation and ownership of common carriers in the interest of 
public service, this proposed legislation requires the registration, annual inspection and marking 
of common carriers used on land, and the wearing of uniforms of their drivers and conductors 
for purposes of identification and accountability. The registration, annual inspection and 
marking of common carriers with the city or municipality where they conduct their business or 
hold their principal office will allow such local government unit to determine for itself its road 
bearing capacity and not overburden its roads, and to limit, regulate and monitor common 
carriers that ply its territory through delineating and setting proper routes. This will effectively 
prevent colorum or the illegal operation of common carriers and protect the public as well 
through recorded data with the city or municipality where the common carrier is registered. 
The fast and easy way of identifying common carriers with their marking (Le. city or 
municipality and province of its principal place of business or where the vehicle is based, 
number plate, routelzone number, body code and/or color code) and the wearing of uniforms of 
their drivers and conductors aims to take a bite out of crime by giving the public a convenient 
way of identifying common carriers involved in violations of the law, including their errant 
drivers and conductors who may be responsible for these violations. In addition, this bill 
requires the coordination of the Land Transportation Office, the Land Transportation and 
Franchising Regulatory Board, the Philippine National Police, and the cities and municipalities 
to provide an effective and efficient system of reporting these violations through a direct and 
immediate telephone hotline or computer linkup using the most advanced technology. 
There is a need to promote the accountability of common carriers to facilitate the 
enforcement of laws, protect the people, and promote public safety. Therefore, the passage of 
this bill is earnestlv souaht. 
Senator+ 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
SENATE 
S. No. 
Introduced by Senator Richard J. Gordon 
AN ACT TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC BY REQUIRING THE REGISTRATION, ANNUAL 
INSPECTION AND MARKING OF COMMON CARRIERS USED ON LAND, AND THE 
WEARING OF UNIFORMS OF THEIR DRIVERS AND CONDUCTORS FOR PURPOSES 
OF IDENTIFICATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY 
Be if enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Identification and 
Accountability Act of Common Carriers of 2007." 
Sec. 2. Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect the public by providing 
effective means of identifying the owners or operators of common carriers used on land and 
their drivers and conductors, and promote accountability. 
Sec. 3. Registration and Annual Inspection. - Every owner or operator of a 
common carrier used on land shall be required to register with the city or municipality of its 
principal place of business or where the vehicle is based, providing photographs of its 
owner or operator, driver, and conductor, if any; stating its type, make, color, number plate, 
the name and address of its owner or operator, driver, and conductor, if any, record of 
offenses involving the vehicle, and such other information as may be required by the city or 
municipality where it is being registered; and complying with the marking requirement in the 
succeeding Section. 
Any subsequent change to the information required in the registration in the 
preceding paragraph, including but not limited to a change in ownership or operation of the 
vehicle arising from sale, must be registered with the city or municipality of its principal 
place of business or where the vehicle is based within fifteen (15) days from the occurrence 
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of such change. 
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All common carriers used on land shall be subject to inspection at least once a year 
by the city or municipality where they are registered to monitor compliance with this Act and 
other related laws. 
Sec. 4. Marking. - Every common carrier used on land must display inside and 
outside on both sides and at the back of the vehicle in letters that contrast sharply in color 
with the background on which the letters are placed, the following information on the 
vehicle: 
(1) The city or municipality and province of its principal place of business or where 
the vehicle is based; 
(2) The number plate of the vehicle; and 
(3) As may be required by Ordinance of the city or municipality where it is being 
registered, a routelzone number, an alphanumeric body code of not more than four (4) 
characters, andlor a color code. 
The marking required in this Section must be readily legible inside and outside from 
a distance of at least twenty (20) meters from each side and at the back of the vehicle, and 
be kept and maintained in a manner that retains the legibility required. 
Other identifying information such as a recognized company logo or identification 
may be displayed on the vehicle if it is not inconsistent with the information required by this 
Section and if it would not give a false or distorted impression of the operation of the 
vehicle. 
Sec. 5. Condition for the Issuance of a Franchise, Permit or License. - Proof of 
registration and marking in accordance with this Act shall be a condition for the issuance of 
a franchise, permit or license for a common carrier used on land. All existing franchises, 
permits or licenses for such vehicles are hereby modified accordingly to include the 
provisions of this Act. 
Sec. 6. Penalties for Violation of Registration and Marking Requirements. - The 
owner or operator of a common carrier used on land who does not comply with Section 3 
and Section 4 of this Act shall be punished with a fine ranging from five thousand pesos 
(PhP5,OOO) to fifty thousand pesos (PhP50,OOO). 
In addition, the franchise, permit or 
license for such vehicle shall be withheld or suspended until its owner or operator complies 
with the said provisions of this Act. 
Sec. 7. Wearing of Uniform. - Every driver or conductor of a common carrier used 
on land is required to wear a uniform while on duty, which shall legibly show his or her name 


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and the owner's or operator's name on the upper left front portion and at the upper center 
back portion of the driver's or conductor's shirt legible from a distance of at least five (5) 
meters from the front and at least ten (IO) meters from the back. 
Every driver or conductor of a common carrier used on land shall carry and visibly 
display in the vehicle at all times the driver's or conductor's proper identification issued by 
the owner or operator of the common carrier which shall contain the driver's or conductor's 
photograph. 
A violation of this Section shall be punished with a fine ranging from five hundred 
pesos (PhP500) to five thousand pesos (PhP5,OOO) for which the owner or operator and the 
driver or conductor shall be solidarily liable. 
Sec. 8. Reporting System. - The Land Transportation Office, the Land 
Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board, the Philippine National Police, and the 
cities and municipalities are required to coordinate their efforts and provide an effective and 
efficient system of reporting violations of the law involving common carriers used on land, 
including their errant drivers or conductors who may be responsible for these violations 
through a direct and immediate telephone hotline or computer linkup using the most 
advanced technology to facilitate speedy action by the law enforcement. 
Sec. 9. Appropriation. - The initial funding to carry out the provisions of this Act 
shall be charged against the current year's appropriation. Thereafter, such sums as may be 
necessary shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
Sec. 10. Construction. - This Act shall be construed to promote the identification 
and accountability of common carriers and shall not reduce or diminish the requirements 
provided in existing laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or other issuances that 
promote the same. 
Sec. 11. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or other provisions not affected thereby shall 
remain in force and effect. 
Sec. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following the 
completion of its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general 
circulation in the Philippines. 
Approved,