Mountain Province State Polytechnic College

Bontoc, Mountain Province

Criminology Department

TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
AND
ACCIDENT MANAGEMENT

Land Transportation Laws of the Philippines

NAME: Anayasan, Rubyline G.

INSTRUCTOR: Mr. June S. Biangdan
 Republic Act No. 4136
June 20, 1964
AN ACT TO COMPILE THE LAWS RELATIVE TO LAND TRANSPORTATION AND
TRAFFIC RULES, TO CREATE A LAND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

CHAPTER I.—PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS ARTICLE

ARTICLE I.—Title and Scope of Act

SECTION 1. Title of Act. —This Act shall be known as the "Land
Transportation and Traffic Code."
SEC. 2. Scope of Act. —The provisions of this Act shall control, as far as they
apply, the registration and operation of motor vehicles and the licensing of
owners, dealers, conductors, drivers, and similar matters.
ARTICLE II. —Definitions
SEC. 3. Words and phrases defined. —As used in this Act:
a. "Motor Vehicle" shall mean any vehicle propelled by any power other than
muscular power using the public highways, but excepting road rollers, trolley
cars, street-sweepers, sprinklers, lawn mowers, bulldozers, graders, fork-lifts,
amphibian trucks, and cranes if not used on public highways, vehicles which
run only on rails or tracks, and tractors, trailers and traction engines of all
kinds used exclusively for agricultural purposes.
Trailers having any number of wheels, when propelled or intended to be
propelled by attachment to a motor vehicle, shall be classified as separate
motor vehicle with no power rating.
b. "Passenger automobiles" shall mean all pneumatictire vehicles of types
similar to those usually known under the following terms: touring car,
command car, speedster, sportscar, roadster, jeep, cycle car (except motor
wheel and similar small outfits which are classified with motorcycles), coupe,
landaulet, closed car, limousine, cabriolet and sedan.
Motor vehicles with changed or rebuilt bodies, such as jeepneys, jitneys, or
station wagons, using a chassis of the usual pneumatic-tire passenger
automobile type, shall also be classified as passenger automobile, if their net
allowable carrying capacity, as determined by the Commissioner of Land
Transportation, does not exceed nine passengers and if they are not used
primarily for carrying freight or merchandise.

The distinction between "passenger truck" and "passenger automobile" shall be

that of common usage: Provided, that a motor vehicle registered for more than
nine passengers shall be classified as "truck": And provided, further, that a
"truck with seating compartments at the back not used for hire shall be
registered under special "S" classifications. In case of dispute, the
Commissioner of Land Transportation shall determine the classification to
which any special type of motor vehicle belongs.
c. "Articulated vehicle" shall mean any motor vehicle with a trailer having no
front axle and so attached that part of the trailer rests upon the motor vehicle
and a substantial part of the weight of the trailer and of its load is borne by the
motor vehicle. Such a trailer shall be called as "semi-trailer."
d. "Driver" shall mean every and any licensed operator of a motor vehicle.
e. "Professional driver" shall mean every and any driver hired or paid for
driving or operating a motor vehicle, whether for private use or for hire to the
public. Any person driving his own motor vehicle for hire is a professional
driver.
f. "Owner" shall mean the actual legal owner of a motor vehicle; in whose name
such vehicle is duly registered with the Land Transportation Commission.
The "owner" of a government-owned motor vehicle is the head of the office or
the chief of the Bureau to which the said motor vehicle belongs.
g. "Dealer" shall mean every person, association, partnership, or corporation
making, manufacturing, constructing, assembling, remodeling, rebuilding, or
setting up motor vehicles; and every such entity acting as agent for the sale of
one or more makes, styles, or kinds of motor vehicles, dealing in motor
vehicles, keeping the same in stock or selling same or handling with a view to
trading same.
h. "Garage" shall mean any building in which two or more motor vehicles,
either with or without drivers, are kept ready for hire to the public, but shall
not include street stands, public service stations, or other public places
designated by proper authority as parking spaces for motor vehicles for hire
while awaiting or soliciting business.
i. "Gross weight" shall mean the measured weight of a motor vehicle plus the
maximum allowable carrying capacity in merchandise, freight and/or
passengers, as determined by the Commissioner of Land Transportation.
j. "Highways" shall mean every public thoroughfare, public boulevard,
driveway, avenue, park, alley and callejon, but shall not include roadway upon
grounds owned by private persons, colleges, universities, or other similar
institutions.
k. "The Commissioner of Land Transportation or his deputies" shall mean the
actual or acting chief of the Land Transportation Commission or such
representatives, deputies, or assistants as he may, with the approval of the
Secretary of Public Works and Communications, appoint or designate in
writing for the purpose contemplated by this Act.
l. "Parking or parked", for the purposes of this Act, shall mean that a motor
vehicle is "parked" or "parking" if it has been brought to a stop on the shoulder
or proper edge of a highway, and remains inactive in that place or close thereto
for an appreciable period of time. A motor vehicle which properly stops merely
to discharge a passenger or to take in a waiting passenger, or to load or unload
a small quantity of freight with reasonable dispatch shall not be considered as
"parked", if the motor vehicle again moves away without delay.
m. "Tourist" shall mean a foreigner who travels from place to place for pleasure
or culture.
ARTICLE III. —Administration of Act
SEC. 4. Creation of the Commission.
a. There is created under the Department of Public Works and
Communications an office which shall be designated and known as the Land
Transportation Commission, composed of one Commissioner and one Deputy
Commissioner, who shall be vested with the powers and duties hereafter
specified. Whenever the word "Commission" is used in this Act, it shall be
deemed to mean the Land Transportation Commission, and whenever the word
"Commissioner" is used in this Act, it shall be taken to mean the Commissioner
or Deputy Commissioner.
The Commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner shall be natural-born
citizens and residents of the Philippines, and they shall be appointed by the
President of the Philippines, with the consent of the Commission on
Appointments of the Congress of the Philippines: Provided, however, That the
present Administrator, Assistant Administrator and the personnel of the Motor
Vehicles Office shall continue in office without the necessity of reappointment.
b. The Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner shall hold office until removed
in accordance with the provisions of the Revised Administrative Code.
The Commissioner shall receive an annual compensation of twelve thousand
pesos and the Deputy Commissioner, an annual compensation of ten thousand
four hundred pesos. The Commissioner shall be assisted by one head executive
assistant (MV regulation adviser or chief), one administrative officer, one
registration regulation chief, one inspection, examination and licensing
regulation chief, one law and traffic enforcement regulation chief, one
provincial regulation chief, one utility and property regulation chief, one
accounting officer, one internal chief auditor, and one personnel officer, who
shall receive an annual compensation of nine thousand pesos each; eight land
transportation regional directors who shall receive an annual compensation of
eight thousand four hundred pesos each and eight land transportation
assistant regional directors, who shall receive an annual compensation of
seven thousand pesos each and ten assistant regulation chiefs, who shall
receive an annual compensation of seven thousand pesos each.
c. The Commission shall have its offices in Quezon City where the present
Motor Vehicles Office is located, and shall establish a regional branch office
each in Tuguegarao (Cagayan), Baguio City, Pasig (Rizal), Lipa City, San
Fernando (La Union), Naga City, Cebu City, Iloilo City, Cagayan de Oro City,
and Davao City, to be headed by a regional director who will have immediate
administration, supervision and control over all activities and administration of
the Commission in the respective regions.
The Commissioner shall be responsible for the administration of this Act and
shall have in connection therewith, the following powers and duties, in addition
to those mentioned elsewhere in this Act:
1. With the approval of the Secretary of Public Works and Communications,
to issue rules and regulations not in conflict with the provisions of this
Act, prescribing the procedure for the examination, licensing and
 bonding of drivers; the registration and re-registration of motor vehicles,
transfer of ownership, change of status; the replacement of lost
certificates, licenses, badges, permits or number plates; and to prescribe
the minimum standards and specifications including allowable gross
weight, allowable length, width and height of motor vehicles, distribution
of loads, allowable loads on tires, change of tire sizes, body design or
carrying capacity subsequent to registration and all other special cases
which may arise for which no specific provision is otherwise made in this
Act.
2. To compile and arrange all applications, certificates, permits, licenses,
and to enter, note and record thereon transfers, notifications,
suspensions, revocations, or judgments of conviction rendered by
competent courts concerning violations of this Act, with the end in view
of preserving and making easily available such documents and records to
public officers and private persons properly and legitimately interested
therein.
3. To give public notice of the certificates, permits, licenses and badges
issued, suspended or revoked and/or motor vehicles transferred and/or
drivers bonded under the provisions of this Act.
4. The Commissioner of Land Transportation, with the approval of the
Secretary of Public Works and Communications, may designate as his
deputy and agent any employee of the Land Transportation Commission,
or such other government employees as he may deem expedient to assist
in the carrying out the provisions of this Act.
5. The Commissioner of Land Transportation and his deputies are hereby
authorized to make arrests for violations of the provisions of this Act in
so far as motor vehicles are concerned; to issue subpoena and subpoena
duces tecum to compel the appearance of motor vehicle operators and
drivers and/or other persons or conductors; and to use all reasonable
means within their powers to secure enforcement of the provisions of this
Act.
6. The Commissioner of Land Transportation or his deputies may at any
time examine and inspect any motor vehicle to determine whether such
motor vehicle is registered, or is unsightly, unsafe, overloaded,
improperly marked or equipped, or otherwise unfit to be operated
because of possible excessive damage to highways, bridges and/or
culverts.
7. The Philippine Constabulary and the city and municipal police forces are
hereby given the authority and the primary responsibility and duty to
prevent violations of this Act, and to carry out the police provisions
hereof within their respective jurisdictions: Provided, That all
apprehensions made shall be submitted for final disposition to the
Commissioner and his deputies within twenty-four hours from the date
of apprehension.
8. All cases involving violations of this Act shall be endorsed immediately by
the apprehending officer to the Land Transportation Commission. Where
such violations necessitate immediate action, the same shall be endorsed
to the traffic court, city or municipal court for summary investigation,
hearing and disposition, but in all such cases, appropriate notices of the
apprehensions and the dispositions thereof shall be given to the
Commissioner of Land Transportation by the law-enforcement agency
and the court concerned.
Notation of all such dispositions shall be entered in the records, and copy shall
be mailed to the owner and to the driver concerned.

CHAPTER II. —REGISTRATION OF MOTOR VEHICLES

ARTICLE I.—Duty to Register, Reports, Applications, Classifications

SEC. 5. All motor vehicles and other vehicles must be registered.
a. No motor vehicle shall be used or operated on or upon any public highway of
the Philippines unless the same is properly registered for the current year in
accordance with the provisions of this Act.
b. Any registration of motor vehicles not renewed on or before the date fixed for
different classifications, as provided hereunder shall become delinquent and
invalid:
1. For hire motor vehicles—on or before the last working day of February.
2. Privately-owned motor vehicles—from March one to the last working day
of May.
3. All other motor vehicles—from June one to the last working day of June;
except when the plates of such motor vehicles are returned to the
Commission in Quezon City or to the Office of the Motor Vehicles
Registrar in the provincial or city agency of the Commission on or before
the last working day of December of the year of issue.
c. Dealers' reports—The Commissioner of Land Transportation shall require
dealers to furnish him with such information and reports concerning the sale,
importation, manufacture, number of stocks, transfer or other transactions
affecting motor vehicles as may be necessary for the effective enforcement of
the provisions of this Act.
d. Change of motor number prohibited. —No repair or change in the motor
vehicle involving the exchange elimination, effacing, or replacing of the original
or registered serial or motor number as stamped or imprinted shall be allowed,
and any motor vehicle with a trace of having its motor number altered or
tampered with shall be refused registration or re-registration, unless such is
satisfactorily explained and approved by the Commissioner.
e. Encumbrances of motor vehicles. —Mortgages, attachments, and other
encumbrances of motor vehicles, in order to be valid, must be recorded in the
Land Transportation Commission and must be properly recorded on the face of
all outstanding copies of the certificates of registration of the vehicle concerned.
Cancellation or foreclosure of such mortgages, attachments, and other
encumbrances shall likewise be recorded, and in the absence of such
cancellation, no certificate of registration shall be issued without the
corresponding notation of mortgage, attachment and/or other encumbrances.
Records of encumbrances of motor vehicles shall be kept by the Land
Transportation Commission in chronological sequence and shall contain,
among other things, the time, date and number of the entry in a "Book of Motor
Vehicles" referring to the creation, cancellation or foreclosure of the aforesaid
mortgages, attachments or to other encumbrances.
The Land Transportation Commission shall collect a fee of five pesos for every
annotation of a mortgage, attachment and/or other encumbrances, or
cancellation thereof.
SEC. 6. Application and payments for registration. —Applications and
payments for registration shall be made either personally or by registered mail,
and the date of the cancellation of the postage stamps of envelopes containing
money order or check shall be taken as the date of the application and/or
payment for registration: Provided, That the application is properly prepared
and the payment for registration is sufficient as required by law.
SEC. 7. Registration Classification. —Every motor vehicle shall be registered
under one of the following described classifications:
a. Private passenger automobiles;
b. private trucks; and
c. private motorcycles, scooters or motor wheel attachments. Motor vehicles
registered under these classifications shall not be used for hire under any
circumstances and shall not be used to solicit, accept, or be used to transport
passengers or freight for pay.
Laborers necessary to handle freight on board private trucks may ride on such
trucks: Provided, that seats shall not be installed in the rear compartment
thereof and that only such number of laborers, not exceeding ten, as may be
needed to handle the kind of freight carried, shall ride on the truck: Provided,
further, That the combined weight of cargo and passengers does not exceed the
registered net capacity of the truck.
For the purpose of this section, a vehicle habitually used to carry freight not
belonging to the registered owner thereof, or passengers not related by
consanguinity or affinity within the fourth civil degree to such owner, shall be
conclusively presumed to be "for hire."
No person shall be allowed to register as private truck any truck not actually
and reasonably necessary to carry out his duly licensed business or legitimate
occupation or industry regularly paying taxes.
d. Public utility automobiles;
e. public utility trucks;
f. taxis and auto-calesas;
g. garage automobiles;
h. garage trucks;
i. hire trucks: and
j. trucks owned by contractors and customs brokers and customs agents.
Applications for registration under these classifications shall be accompanied
by a certificate of public convenience or a special permit issued by the Public
Service Commission, and motor vehicles registered under these classifications
shall be subject to the Public Service Law, rules and regulations, as well as the
provisions of this Act.
k. Undertakes
l. Dealers—Registrations under this classification are intended to cover
generally and successively all the motor vehicles imported or handled by
dealers for sale. Motor vehicles registered under the dealer's classification shall
under no circumstances, be employed to carry passengers or freight in the
dealer's business, or for hire. Such vehicles shall be operated under this
classification only for the purpose of transporting the vehicle itself from the
pier or factory to the warehouse or sales room or for delivery to a prospective
purchaser or for test or demonstration.
m. Government automobiles;
n. government trucks; and
o. government motorcycles. Motor vehicles owned by the Government of the
Philippines or any of its political subdivisions shall be registered under these
classifications. Motor vehicles owned by government corporations, by
government employees or by foreign governments shall not be registered under
this classification.
p. Tourists bringing their own motor vehicles to the Philippines may, without
registering such motor vehicles, use the same during but not after ninety days
of their sojourn: Provided, That the motor vehicle displays the number plates
for the current year of some other country or state, and said number plates as
well as the name and address (permanent and temporary) of the owner thereof
are registered in the Land Transportation Commission prior to the operation of
the motor vehicle.
If such tourists remain in the Philippines longer than ninety days, the motor
vehicle shall not be operated unless registered in accordance with this Act and
the corresponding registration fees paid.
q. Special. The Commissioner of Land Transportation may, in his discretion,
allow the registration under this classification of motor vehicles which do not
conform to the foregoing described regular classifications.
ARTICLE II. —Registration Fees
SEC. 8. Schedule of registration fees. —Except as otherwise specifically
provided in this Act, each application for renewal of registration of motor
vehicles shall be accompanied by an annual registration Tee in accordance
with the following schedule:
a. Private automobiles with pneumatic rubber tires, an amount based on their
respective shipping weight or factory weight as indicated in the following
schedule:
1,000 kilos or less P75.00
1,000 to 1,500 kilos 100.00
1,501 to 2,000 kilos 135.00
2,001 kilos and above 180.00
The factory or shipping weight of a private automobile shall be obtained from
the Red Book edited by the National Market Report, Inc., of the United States of
America: Provided, further, That in the case of automobiles with altered,
changed or rebuilt bodies, the weight as obtained: by actual weighing shall be
considered the vehicles weight: Provided, furthermore, That the increased
registration fees herein prescribed shall not apply to jeeps and jeepneys for
private use or for hire and the fees hereof shall be those prescribed for them
before the approval of this Act
The registered passenger capacity of passenger auto-mobiles operated for hire
or for private use shall be determined as follows:
1. For each adult passenger, a horizontal rectangular area, including seat
and feet space, not less than thirty-five centimeters wide and sixty
centimeters long, except in the front seat, which shall allow an area fifty
centimeters wide for the operator.
2. For each half passenger, a horizontal rectangular area, including seat
and feet spaces, not less than seventeen and a half centimeters wide by
sixty centimeters long, provided that each continuous row of seats shall
not be allowed to have more than one-half passenger.
b. Private motor trucks, passenger buses and trailers with pneumatic rubber
tires, the sum of five pesos for every hundred kilograms of maximum allowable
gross weight or fraction thereof.
c. Private motor trucks, passenger buses and trailers with solid rubber tires or
with part-solid and part-pneumatic rubber tires, the sum of seven pesos for
every hundred kilograms of maximum allowable gross weight or fraction
thereof.
d. Private motorcycles and scooters of two or three wheels and bicycles with
motor attachments, the sum of thirty pesos.
e. The fee for registration of motor vehicles for hire shall be sixty percent more
than the fee prescribed for private motor vehicles of the same category.
f. The fee for registration of diesel-consuming vehicles shall be fifty percent
more than that of vehicles using motor fuel other than diesel oil. The fee for
registration of motor vehicles for hire shall be sixty percent more than the fees
prescribed for private motor vehicles.
g. No regular registration fees shall be charged for the general registration of
motor vehicles contemplated under the dealer's classification: Provided, That
the Commissioner of Land Transportation shall provide appropriate dealer's
number plates corresponding to the classification of vehicles herein below
described, and registration fee for every set of such dealer's number plates
shall be in accordance with the following schedule of rates:
Two hundred pesos for each truck or trailer;
One hundred pesos for each passenger automobile; and
Twenty pesos for each motorcycle and the like.
h. Registration under the "Government Motor Vehicle" classification shall be
free of charge, upon request of the chief of bureau or office concerned.
i. Motor vehicles not intended to be operated or used upon any public highway,
or which are operated on highways not constructed or maintained by the
Government, or are intended not to be used or operated at all, shall be exempt
from payment of the registration fees provided in this Act, but shall each pay
an annual recording and service fee of fifteen pesos: Provided, however, That no
refund, credit for, or reimbursement of registration fees or part thereof shall be
made to any owner on account of the discontinuance of the use or operation of
a motor vehicle subsequent to the payment of such registration fees: Provided,
further, That in the event motor vehicles exempted under this section shall be
found operated on my public highways, the regular registration fees and
Surcharges shall be collected in addition to whatever penalties may be imposed
for violation of this Act. The Commissioner of Land Transportation shall
provide distinctive lumber plates for vehicles exempted from payment of
Regular registration fees, and the owner of the vehicles concerned shall pay
four pesos for each set of such number plates.
j. The maximum allowable gross weight of a motor truck, passenger bus, or
trailer, upon which to compute the registration fee thereof, shall be determined
by the Commissioner of Land Transportation. He shall, from time to time as the
need of the service may require, prepare, subject to the approval of the
Secretary of Public Works and Communications, suitable tables of maximum
allowable loads per wheel for different sizes and kinds of tires.
k. The registration fees provided in this Act for trucks may be payable in two
equal installments, the first to be mid on or before the last working day of
February if for hire, and in March if private; and the second to be paid on or
before the last working day of August: Provided, That the fifty per cent penalty
shall apply only to the unpaid balance of the remaining period of delinquency.
SEC. 9. Permissible weights and dimensions of vehicles in highways
traffic.
a. The maximum gross weight and measurement of motor vehicles, unladen or
with load, permissible on public highways shall be as specified hereunder,
subject to such regulations as the Commissioner with the approval of the
Secretary of Public Works and Communications, may promulgate, from time to
time, as the conditions of the public highways may warrant and the needs of
the service may require.
Permissible maximum weights:
1. Per most heavily loaded wheel.......three thousand six hundred
kilograms;
2. Per most heavily loaded axle........eight thousand kilograms;
3. Per most heavily loaded axle group (the two axles of the group being at
least one meter and less than two meters apart) .......fourteen thousand five
hundred kilograms.
An axle weight shall be the total weight transmitted to the road by all the
wheels the centers of which can be included between the parallel transverse
vertical planes one meter apart extending across the full width of the vehicles.
No provincial, city or municipal authority shall enact or enforce any ordinance
or resolution regulating or prescribing the maximum gross weight of any motor
vehicle.
b. No motor vehicle operating as a single unit shall exceed the following
dimensions:
Overall width.......two and five-tenths meters
Overall height......four meters
Overall length:
Freight vehicles with two axles ......ten meters
Passenger vehicles with two axles.... eleven meters
Vehicles with three or more axles.... fourteen meters
c. No motor vehicle and/or trailer combination shall exceed eighteen meters in
overall projected length, including any load carried on such vehicle and trailer.
d. No articulated vehicles shall be allowed to draw or pull a trailer and no
vehicle already drawing a trailer shall draw another.
SEC. 10. Special permits, fees for. —The Commissioner with the approval of
the Secretary of Public Works and Communications, shall issue regulations
and schedules of additional fees under which special permits may be issued in
the discretion of the Commissioner or his deputies for each of the following
special cases, without which special permit no vehicles shall be operated on
the public highways:
a. To operate a motor vehicle or trailer outfit with wheel, axle, or axle group
loads in excess of the limits fixed in subsection (a) of Section nine hereof
or in any regulation issued by the Commissioner.
b. To operate a motor vehicle, the size of which exceeds the limit of
permissible dimensions specified in paragraph (6) of Section nine hereof.
c. To operate a motor vehicle with any part of the load extending beyond
the projected width of the vehicle.
d. To pull two trailers behind a motor vehicle.
e. For any other special authority relating to the use of vehicles, not
otherwise specifically provided herein.
SEC. 11. Additional fees.—In addition to the fees else-where provided in this
Act, for each change of registration, from private to for hire or vice-versa;
revision of gross weight rating, change of tire size; transfer of ownership;
replacement of a lost registration certificate, number plate, driver's license or
permit; badge; preparation of affidavit or certified copy of records, or for any
similar circumstances requiring the issue, revision, or reissue of a certificate of
registration, driver's license, badge, permit, or other document, a fee of two
pesos shall be collected.
The replacement of a lost or utterly spoiled certificate, number plate, license,
badge or permit shall render the original invalid.
In case of request in writing for certification of data or facts involving two or
more vehicles, a fee of five pesos a page or part thereof shall be collected for
each certification.
SEC. 12. Fee for original registration for part of year. — If any application
for the original registration is made during the first quarter of a calendar year,
the total annual fee for the year shall be paid, if made during the Second
quarter, three-fourths of the annual fee for that year shall be paid, if made
during the third quarter, one half of the annual fee shall be paid, and if made
during the fourth quarter, one-fourth of the annual fee shall be paid.
Nothing in this section shall be construed as allowing quarterly renewals of
registrations in order to avoid payment of fees in advance for the entire year.
SEC. 13. Payment of taxes upon registration. —No original registration of
motor vehicles subject to payment of taxes, customs duties or other charges
shall be accepted unless proof of payment of the taxes due thereon has been
presented to the Commission.
ARTICLE III. —Registration Certificates, Records, Number Plates
SEC. 14. Issuance of certificates of registration. —A properly numbered
certificate of registration shall be issued for each separate motor vehicle after
due inspection and payment of corresponding registration fees.
SEC. 15. Use and authority of certificate of registration.
a. The said certificate shall be preserved and carried in the car by the
owner as evidence of the registration of the motor vehicle described
therein, and shall be presented with subsequent applications for re-
registration, transfer of ownership, or recording of encumbrances:
Provided, that in lieu of the certificate of registration a true copy or
Photostat thereof may be carried in the motor vehicle.
b. The certificate of registration issued under the provisions of this Act for
any motor vehicle shall, while the same is valid and effective and has not
been suspended or revoked, be the authority for the operation of such
motor vehicle.
c. No motor vehicle shall be operated on the public highways in a manner
which would place it under a classification requiring the payment of a
larger registration fee than that stated in the certificate of registration.
SEC. 16. Suspension of registration certificate.—If inspection, as provided
in paragraph (6) of Section hereof, any motor vehicle is found to be unsightly,
unsafe overloaded, improperly marked or equipped, or otherwise unfit to be
operated, or capable of causing excessive damage to the highways, or not
conforming to minimum standards and specifications, the Commissioner may
refuse to register the said motor vehicle, or if already registered, may require
the number plates thereof to be surrendered to him, and upon seventy-two
hours’ notice to the owner of the motor vehicle, suspend such registration until
the defects of the vehicle are corrected and/or the minimum standards and
specifications fully complied with.
Whenever it shall appear from the records of the Commission that during any
twelve-month period more than three warnings for violations of this Act have
been given to the owner of a motor vehicle, or that the said owner has been
convicted by a competent court more than once for violation of such laws, the
Commissioner may, in his discretion, suspend the certificate of registration for
a period not exceeding ninety days and, thereupon, shall require the immediate
surrender of the number plates.
Whenever a motor vehicle is found to be underweighted the owner thereof shall
pay the difference in the registration fees corresponding to the shortage in
weight plus a fifty per cent surcharge, and until such payment is made, the
certificate of registration of the motor vehicle concerned shall be suspended by
the Commissioner.
After two such suspensions, re-registration of the vehicle concerned for one
year may be denied.
The Commissioner shall notify the owner of the motor vehicle of any action
taken by him under this section.
SEC. 17. Number plates, preparation and issuance of.
a. The Commissioner shall cause number plates to be prepared and issued
to owners of motor vehicles and trailers registered under this Act,
charging a fee of four pesos for each pair including the numerals
indicating the year of registry: Provided, however, That in case no
number plates are available, the Commissioner or his deputies may
issue, without charge, a written permit temporarily authorizing the
operation of any motor vehicles with other means of identification:
Provided, further, That all motor vehicles exempted from payment of
registration fees, motor vehicles for hire, and privately-owned motor
vehicles shall bear Plates so designed and painted with different colors to
distinguish one class from another: Provided, furthermore, That the
plates of motor vehicles exempted from payment of registration fees shall
be permanently assigned to such motor vehicles during their entire
lifetime while exempted from payment of the fees: And, provided, finally,
That the owner thereof shall return such plates to the Land
Transportation Commission within a period of seven working days after
such owner has lost his exemption privilege or has transferred the
vehicle to a non-exempt owner.
b. In case the design of the number plate is such that the numerals
indicating the year of registry are on a detachable tag, the Commissioner
or his deputies may in their discretion, issue the said tag only for
subsequent re-registration charging a fee of one peso for each tag issued.
SEC. 18. Use of number plates. —At all times, every motor vehicle shall
display in conspicuous places, one in front and one in the rear thereof, the said
number plates.
The number plates shall be kept clean and cared for, and shall be firmly affixed
to the motor vehicle in such a manner as will make it entirely visible and
always legible.
Except in the case of dealer's number plates which may be used successively
on various motor vehicles in stock, no person shall transfer number plates
from one motor vehicle to another.
No dealer's number plate shall be used on any motor vehicle after said vehicle
has been sold and delivered to a purchaser, and no dealer shall allow such
dealer's number plates to be used on any motor vehicle after its sale and
delivery to a purchaser.

CHAPTER III. —OPERATION OF MOTOR VEHICLES

ARTICLE I.—License to Drive Motor Vehicles
SEC. 19. Duty to procure license. —Except as otherwise specifically provided
in this Act, no person shall operate any motor vehicle without first procuring a
license drive a motor vehicle for the current year, nor while such license is
delinquent, invalid, suspended or revoked.
The license shall be carried by the driver at all times when operating a motor
vehicle, and shall be shown and/or surrendered for cause and upon demand to
any person with authority under this Act to confiscate the same.
SEC. 20. License for enlisted men operating Government motor vehicles.
—Enlisted men operating a motor vehicle owned by the Government of the
Philippines shall be licensed in accordance with the provisions of this Act, but
no license or delinquency fees shall be collected therefrom. All licenses so
issued shall bear the words "For Government Vehicles Only" plainly marked or
stamped in red ink across the face thereof.
A license so marked or stamped shall not authorize the holder thereof to
operate a private-owned motor vehicle.
SEC. 21. Operation of motor vehicles by tourists. —Bona fide tourist and
similar transients who are duly licensed to operate motor vehicles in their
respective countries may be allowed to operate motor vehicles during but not
after ninety days of their sojourn in the Philippines.
If any accident involving such tourist or transient occurs, which upon
investigation by the Commissioner or his deputies indicates that the said
tourist or transient is incompetent to operate motor vehicles, the Commissioner
shall immediately inform the said tourist or transient in writing that he shall
no longer be permitted to operate a motor vehicle.
After ninety days, any tourist or transient desiring to operate motor vehicles
shall pay fees and obtain and carry a license as hereinafter provided.
SEC. 22. Driver's license, fees, examination. —Every person who desires
personally to operate any motor vehicle shall file an application to the
Commissioner or his deputies for a license to drive motors vehicles: Provided,
however, that no person shall be issued a professional driver's license who is
suffering from highly contagious diseases, such as, advanced tuberculosis,
gonorrhea, syphilis, and the like.
Each such application except in the case of enlisted men operating government
owned vehicles, shall be accompanied by a fee of five pesos, and shall contain
such information respecting the applicant and his ability to operate motor
vehicles, as may be required by the Commission.
The Commissioner or his deputies shall also ascertain that the applicant's
sight and hearing are normal, and may in their discretion, require a certificate
to that effect, signed by a reputable physician.
An examination or demonstration to show any applicant's ability to operate
motor vehicles may also be required in the discretion of the Commissioner or
his deputies.
SEC. 23. Issuance of driver's license. —If, after such examination, the
Commissioner or his deputy believes that the applicant possesses the
necessary qualifications and is proficient in the operation of motor vehicles, a
license shall be issued to such applicant upon payment of five pesos, but prior
to the issuance of said license, the applicant shall furnish three copies of his
recent photograph to be securely attached to the license, and two copies to be
filed and kept as provided by this Act. All driver's licenses shall bear the
signature and right-hand thumb print of the licensee.
SEC. 24. Use of driver's license and badge.—Every license issued under the
provisions of this Act to any driver shall entitle the holder thereof, while the
same is valid and effective and not suspended or revoked, to operate the motor
vehicles described in such license: Provided, however, That every licensed
professional driver, before operating: a public service motor vehicle registered
under classifications (d) to (j) inclusive of Section seven hereof, shall secure
from the Commissioner, upon payment of the sum of one peso, a driver's badge
which he shall, at all times while so operating a motor vehicle, display in plain
sight on the band of his cap or on his coat or shirt. Such driver's badge shall
be of metal with a plainly readable number assigned to the licensee stamped
thereon.
It shall be unlawful for any duly licensed driver to transfer, lend or otherwise
allow any person to use license for the purpose of enabling such person to
operate a motor vehicle.
No owner of a motor vehicle shall engage, employ, or hire any person to operate
such motor vehicle, unless the person sought to be employed is a duly licensed
professional driver.
SEC. 25. Driver's records. —Any driver who changes his address shall, within
fifteen days, notify the Commissioner in writing of his new address, name and
address of his new employer, the number of the motor vehicle he is employed
to operate, and such other information as the Commissioner may require.
SEC. 26. Renewal of license. —Any license not renewed on or before the last
working day of the month when the applicant was born shall become
delinquent and invalid, except when the license is surrendered to the Com-
missioner or his deputies before the last working day of the month of his birth
in order to avoid payment of the delinquency fees.
The fee for renewal of delinquent license shall be five pesos in addition to the
basic fee as hereinabove prescribed.
Every applicant for renewal of license to operate any motor vehicle shall
present to the Commissioner, in person or by mail or messenger, the license
issued to the applicant for the previous year, together with the proper fee of five
pesos and, in the case of professional chauffeurs, three copies of a readily-
recognized photograph of the applicant, which photograph shall have been
taken not exceeding three years prior to the date of application for renewal.
Lost license.—In case the license for the previous year has been lost or cannot
be produced, the applicant shall obtain a duplicate in accord with Section
eleven of this Act, on penalty of refusal, by the Commissioner or his deputies,
to renew the license: Provided, however, That the Commissioner or his deputies
may, in their discretion accept in lieu of the previous year’s license, the duly-
signed and sworn statement of an operator to the effect that he has not
operated any motor vehicle in the Philippines during the year or years to which
no license was issued in his name.
The Commissioner and his deputies are hereby author-zed to administer the
oath in connection with such affidavit.
SEC. 27. Suspension, revocation of driver's license.
a. The Commissioner may suspend for a period not exceeding three months
or, after hearing, revoke any driver's license issued under the provisions
of this Act, and may order any such license to be delivered to him
whenever he has reason to believe that the holder thereof is an improper
person to operate motor vehicles, or in operating or using a motor vehicle
in, or as an accessory to, the commission of any crime or act which
endangers the public. Any deputy of the Commissioner may, for the
same cause, suspend for a period not exceeding three months any
driver's license issued under the provisions of this Act: Provided, that
such suspension may be appealed to the Commissioner who may, after
reviewing the case, confirm, reverse or modify the action taken by such
deputy.
b. Whenever during any twelve-month period, a driver shall have been
convicted at least three times for the violations of any provisions of this
Act or of any regulation issued by the Commissioner or any municipal or
city ordinance relating to motor vehicle traffic not in, conflict with any of
the provisions of this Act, the Com-missioner may, in his discretion,
revoke or suspend the license of such driver for a period not exceeding
two years.
c. The license suspended or revoked under the provisions of subsections (a)
and (b) of this section shall not be reinstated unless the driver has
furnished a bond in accordance with Section twenty-nine of this Act and
only after the Commissioner has satisfied himself that such driver may
again safely be permitted to operate a motor vehicle.
d. A decision of the Commissioner revoking or refusing the reinstatement of
a license under the provisions of this Section may be appealed to the
Secretary of Public Works and Communications.
SEC. 28. Driver's bond. —The Commissioner before reinstating any driver's
license which has been suspended or revoked under the provisions of the
preceding section or of any provisions of this Act, may require such driver to
post a bond in the sum of one thousand pesos conditioned upon the
satisfaction and payment of any claim which may be filed or of any execution
which may be issued against such driver in any case wherein said driver may
be held answerable while operating motor vehicles. The bond required in this
section shall be in such form as to render sureties liable at least for a period of
not less than one year nor more than three years: Provided, however, That
upon written application to the Commissioner for release from such a bond,
the Commissioner may after revoking or suspending the driver's license,
authorize the release of the bondsmen from further responsibility thereunder:
Provided, further, That should the Commissioner decide not to revoke the
license of a driver who has been convicted of homicide through reckless
imprudence, or of the violation of the speed limit or of reckless driving at least
three times within a twelve-month period, the said driver shall post a bond in
the sum of not less than two thousand pesos, conditioned upon the payment of
any claim which may be filed or any execution which may be issued against
him in any case wherein said driver may be held answerable while operating
motor vehicles.
SEC. 29. Confiscation of driver's licenses.—Law enforce-met and peace
officers duly designated by the Commissioner shall, in apprehending any driver
for violations of this Act or of any regulations issued pursuant thereto, or of
local traffic rules and regulations, confiscate the license of the driver concerned
and issue a receipt prescribed and issued by the Commission therefor which
shall authorize the driver to operate a motor vehicle for a period not exceeding
seventy-two hours from the time and date of issue of said receipt. The period so
fixed in the receipt shall not be extended, and shall become invalid thereafter.
Failure of the driver to settle his case within fifteen days from the date of
apprehension will cause suspension and revocation of his license.
SEC. 30. Student-driver's permit. —Upon proper application and the
payment of three pesos, the Commissioner or his deputy may issue student-
driver's permits, valid for six months to persons not under eighteen years of
age who desire to learn to operate motor vehicles. No application for driver's
license shall be received unless the applicant has undergone instruction in the
operation of motor vehicles for at least a month and has a valid student-
driver's permit: Provided, however, that any person who has a license to
operate motor vehicles in other countries may, upon presentation of
appropriate evidence of such license, be allowed to pay for a driver's license
without presenting a student driver's permit.
A student driver who fails in the examination shall continue as a student driver
for at least one additional month. No student driver shall operate a motor
vehicle unless accompanied by a duly licensed driver.
The licensed driver acting as instructor to the student driver shall likewise be
responsible and liable for any violation of the provisions of this Act and for any
injury or damage done by the motor vehicle on account or as a result of its
operation by a student driver under his direction.
ARTICLE II. —Illegal Use of Licenses, Number Plates, Etc.
SEC. 31. Imitation and false representations. —No person shall make or
use or attempt to make or use a driver's license, badge, certificate of
registration, number plate, tag, or permit in imitation or similitude of those
issued under this Act, or intended to be used as or for a legal license, badge,
certificate, plate, tag or permit, or with intent to sell or otherwise dispose of the
same to another. No person shall falsely or fraudulently represent as valid and
in force any driver's license, badge, certificate, plate, tag or permit issued under
this Act which is delinquent or which has been revoked or suspended.
No person shall, knowingly and with intent to deceive, make one or more false
or fraudulent statements in an application for the registration of vehicles, or for
a driver's license.
ARTICLE III. —Passengers and Freight
SEC. 32. Exceeding registered capacity. —No person operating any vehicle
shall allow more passengers or more freight or cargo in his vehicle than its
registered carrying capacity. In the case of public utility trucks or buses, the
conductor shall be exclusively liable for violations of this section or of Section
thirty-two, letter (c) hereof: Provided, That the conductor, before being
employed by any public service operator, shall get a permit or license from the
Commission and pay five-pesos annually for said license or permit issued in
his favor, and the same is renewable on or before the last working day of the
month of his birth, attaching a readily recognizable photograph and after
presentation of a medical certificate of fitness of applicant.
Passenger trucks may be allowed to construct any cargo carrying device at the
rear or at the side of the truck, subject to the approval of the Commissioner:
Provided, however, That the total weight of the device, in-cluing the cargo, shall
not exceed one hundred kilos.
(b) Carrying of passengers and freight on top of vehicles.—No person
operating a motor vehicle shall allow any passenger to ride on the cover or top
of such vehicles: Provided, however, That subject to such conditions as may be
contained in permits that may be issued by the Commissioner, baggage or
freight may be carried on the top of a truck provided the weight thereof does
not exceed twenty kilos per square meter and is distributed in such a manner
as not to endanger the passengers or stability of the truck.
(c) Riding on running boards. —No driver shall permit any person to ride on
the running board, step board, or mudguard of his motor vehicle for any
purpose except to make repair or adjustment in the motor or to collect fares.
SEC. 33. Passenger or freight capacity marked on vehicle. —All passenger
automobiles for hire shall have the registered passenger capacity plainly and
conspicuously marked on both sides thereof, in letters and numerals not less
than five centimeters in height.
All motor trucks, whether for passenger or freight private, or for hire, shall
have the registered passenger gross and net weight capacities plainly and
conspicuously marked on both sides thereof, in letters and numerals not less
than five centimeters in height.
ARTICLE IV. —Accessories of Motor Vehicles
SEC. 34 (a) Tires of motor vehicles. —No motor vehicle with metallic tires
shall be operated upon any public highway, and solid tires whenever used shall
be of sufficient thickness to prevent the metal rims thereof from coming in
direct contact with the road.
(b) Brakes—Every motor vehicle with four or more wheels shall be provided
with dual hydraulic brake system so that in case of hydraulic line failure
affecting the braking efficiency of any of the four wheels at least either the front
or rear wheels shall retain normal braking capabilities. In the absence of such
dual braking system every motor vehicle with four or more wheels shall be
provided with safety valve devices of such design and make so that failure of
the hydraulic braking system of the vehicle because of leakage in the line or
other parts of the system will not affect all wheels but rather render at all times
effective the braking- power of either the two front wheels or the two rear
wheels when brakes are applied. This requirement, however, does not apply to
motor vehicles equipped with pneumatic braking system.
(b-1) Horns—Every motor vehicle shall be provided with a horn or signaling
devise in good working order: Provided, however, that no horn or signaling
device emit-ting an exceptionally loud, startling, or disagreeable sound shall be
installed or used on any motor vehicle.
All authorized emergency vehicles, such as ambulance and police cars and fire
wagons used for emergency calls shall be equipped with a bell, siren, or
exhaust whistle of a type approved by the Commissioner, and no such device
shall be installed or used in any other vehicle.
No vehicle not classified as a motor vehicle under this Act shall be equipped
with a horn or signaling device similar to the horn customarily used on motor
vehicles.
(c) Headlights. —Every motor vehicle of more than one meter of projected
width, while in use on any public highway shall bear two headlights, one on
each side, with white or yellowish light visible from the front, which, not later
than one-half hour after sunset and until at least one-half hour before sunrise
and whenever weather conditions so require, shall both be lighted.
Additional lamps and light may be carried, but no red lights shall be visible
forward or ahead of the vehicle. Trucks, buses, trailers, and other similar
vehicles must carry, while in use on any public highway dining nighttime,
colored riding lights on each of the four corners not more than ten centimeters
from the top.
All motor vehicles shall be equipped with devices for varying the intensity of
light, and the driver must dim the headlights or tilt the beams downward
whenever the vehicle is being operated on well-lighted streets within the limits
of cities, municipalities, and thickly populated barrios or districts, or whenever
such vehicle meets another vehicle on any public highway.
(d) Taillights. —Every motor vehicle and trailer shall, during the above-
mentioned hours, also bear on each side in the rear a lamp showing a red light
visible at least one hundred meters from the rear of the vehicle and a lamp
throwing a white light upon the number plate issued for such vehicle.
(e) Stop lights. —Every motor vehicle shall be equipped at the rear with at
least one lamp which shall throw a sustained bright red light visible under all
conditions, even under bright sunlight, when the brakes are applied.
Each bus, truck, trailer, or similar vehicle shall be equipped as its stop light at
or near its rear center, with a lamp at least twelve centimeters in diameter with
the word "stop" inscribed in the center.
(f) Motorcycle and other vehicle lights. —Every motor vehicle of less than
one meter of projected width shall be subject to the preceding provisions of this
section except that one headlight and one taillight shall be required. No signal
light shall be necessary.
Additional lamps may be carried provided they comply with the preceding
provisions of this section.
Every other vehicle, or whatever style, kind, make, character, or nature, when
upon a highway during the hours above-mentioned, whether in motion or not,
shall have one or more lights so arranged that the same shall be visible at least
fifty meters from the front and the rear of such vehicle.
(g) Lights when parked or disabled. —Appropriate parking lights or flares
visible one hundred meters away shall be displayed at a corner of the vehicle
whenever such vehicle is parked on highways or in places that are not well-
lighted or is placed in such manner as to endanger passing traffic.
(h) Windshield wiper. —Every motor vehicle shall be equipped with a
mechanically or electrically operated de-vice for wiping off raindrops or other
moisture from its front windshield.
(i) Use of red flag. —Whenever the load of any vehicle extends more than one
meter beyond the bed or body thereof, there shall be displayed at every
projecting end of such load a red flag not less than thirty centimeters both in
length and width, except that during the hours fixed under subsection (c),
there shall be displayed, in lieu of the required red flags, red lights visible at
least fifty meters away.
(j) Mufflers. —Every motor vehicle propelled by an internal combustion engine
shall be equipped with a muffler, and whenever said motor vehicle passes
through a street of any city, municipality, or thickly populated district or
barrio, the muffler shall not be cut out or disconnected. No motor vehicle shall
be operated in such a manner as to cause it to emit or make any unnecessary
or disagreeable odor, smoke or noise.

CHAPTER IV—TRAFFIC RULES

ARTICLE I.—Speed Limit and Keeping to the Right
SEC. 35. Restriction as to speed.
a. Any person driving a motor vehicle on a highway shall drive the same at a
careful and prudent speed, not greater nor less than is reasonable and proper,
having due regard for the traffic, the width of the highway, and of any other
condition then and there existing; and no person shall drive any motor vehicle
upon a highway at such a speed as to endanger the life, limb and property of
any person, nor at a speed greater than will permit him to bring the vehicle to a
stop within the assured clear distance ahead.
b. Subject to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the rate of speed of any
motor vehicle shall not exceed the following:
MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE SPEEDS
1. On open country roads, with no "blind corners" not closely bordered by
habitations. 80 km. per hour 50 km. per hour
2. On "through streets" or boulevards, clear of traffic, with no "blind corners,"
when so designated. 40 km. per hour 30 km. per hour
3. On city and municipal streets, with light traffic, when not designated
"through streets." 30 km. per hour 30 km. per hour
4. Through crowded streets, approaching intersections at "blind corners,"
passing school zones, passing other vehicles which are stationary, or for
similar dangerous circumstances. 20 km. per hour 20 km. per hour
c. The rates of speed hereinabove prescribed shall not apply to the following:
1. A physician or his driver when the former responds to emergency calls;
2. The driver of a hospital ambulance on the way to and from the place of
accident or other emergency;
3. Any driver bringing a wounded or sick person for emergency treatment to
a hospital, clinic, or any other similar place;
 4. The driver of a motor vehicle belonging to the Armed Forces while in use
for official purposes in times of riot, insurrection or invasion;
5. The driver of a vehicle, when he or his passengers are in pursuit of a
criminal;
6. A law-enforcement officer who is trying to overtake a violator of traffic
laws; and
7. The driver officially operating a motor vehicle of any fire department,
provided that exemption shall not be construed to allow useless or
unnecessary fast driving of drivers afore-mentioned.
SEC. 36. Speed limits uniform throughout the Philippines. —No
provincial, city or municipal authority shall enact or enforce any ordinance or
resolution specifying maximum allowable speeds other than those provided in
this Act.
SEC. 37. Driving on right side of highway.—Unless a different course of
action is required in the interest of the safety and the security of life, person or
property, or because of unreasonable difficulty of operation in compliance
herewith, every person operating a motor vehicle or an animal-drawn vehicle
on a highway shall pass to the right when meeting persons or vehicles coming
toward him, and to the left when overtaking persons or vehicles going the same
direction, and when turning to the left in going from one highway to another,
every vehicle shall be conducted to the right of the center of the intersection of
the highway.
SEC. 38. Classification of highways. —Public highways shall be properly
classified for traffic purposes by the provincial board, municipal board or city
council having jurisdiction over them, and said provincial board, municipal
board or city council shall provide appropriate signs therefor, subject to the
approval of the Commissioner. It shall be the duty of every provincial, city and
municipal secretary to certify to the Commissioner the names, locations, and
limits of all "through streets" designated as such by the provincial board,
municipal board or council.
ARTICLE II. —Overtaking and Passing a Vehicle, and Turning at
Intersections
SEC. 39. Overtaking a vehicle. —The driver of any motor vehicle overtaking
another vehicle proceeding in the same direction shall pass at a safe distance
to the left thereof, and shall not again drive to the right side of the highway
until safely clear of such overtaken vehicle except that on a highway, within a
business or residential district, having two or more lanes for the movement of
traffic in one direction, the driver of a vehicle may overtake and pass another
vehicle on the right. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a
driver overtaking and passing, upon the right, another vehicle which is making
or about to make a left turn.
SEC. 40. Driver to give way to overtaking vehicle. —The driver of a vehicle
about to be overtaken and passed by another vehicle approaching from the rear
shall give way to the overtaking vehicle on suitable and audible signal being
given by the driver of the overtaking vehicle, and shall not increase the speed of
his vehicle until completely passed by the overtaking vehicle.
SEC. 41. Restrictions on overtaking and passing.
a. The driver of a vehicle shall not drive to the left side of the center line of a
highway in overtaking or passing another vehicle proceeding in the same
direction, unless such left side is clearly visible, and is free of oncoming traffic
for a sufficient distance ahead to permit such overtaking or passing to be made
in safety.
b. The driver of a vehicle shall not overtake or pass another vehicle proceeding
in the same direction, when approaching the crest of a grade, nor upon a curve
in the highway, where the driver's view along the highway is obstructed within
a distance of five hundred feet ahead except on a highway having two or more
lanes for movement of traffic in one direction where the driver of a vehicle may
overtake or pass another vehicle: Provided, That on a highway within a
business or residential district, having two or more lanes for movement of
traffic in one direction, the driver of a vehicle may overtake or pass another
vehicle on the right.
c. The driver of a vehicle shall not overtake or pass any other vehicle
proceeding in the same direction, at any railway grade crossing, nor at any
intersection of highways unless such intersection or crossing is controlled by
traffic signal, or unless permitted to do so by a watchman or a peace officer,
except on a highway having two or more lanes for movement of traffic in one
direction where the driver of a vehicle may overtake or pass another vehicle on
the right. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a driver
overtaking or passing upon the right another vehicle which is making or about
to make a left turn.
d. The driver of a vehicle shall not overtake or pass, or attempt to pass, any
other vehicle, proceeding in the same direction, between any points indicated
by the placing of official temporary warning or caution signs indicating that
men are working on the highway.
e. The driver of a vehicle shall not overtake or pass, or attempt to overtake or
pass, any other vehicle proceeding in the same direction in any "no-passing or
overtaking zone."
ARTICLE III. —Right of Way and Signals
SEC. 42. Right of way.
a. When two vehicles approach or enter an intersection at approximately the
same time, the driver of the vehicle on the left shall yield the right of way to the
vehicle on the right, except as otherwise hereinafter provided. The driver of any
vehicle traveling at an unlawful speed shall forfeit any right of way which he
might otherwise have hereunder.
b. The driver of a vehicle approaching but not having entered an intersection,
shall yield the right of way to a vehicle within such intersection or turning
therein to the left across the line of travel of such first-mentioned vehicle,
provided the driver of the vehicle turning left has given a plainly visible signal
of intention to turn as required in this Act.
c. The driver of any vehicle upon a highway within a business or residential
district shall yield the right of way to a pedestrian crossing such highway
within a cross walk, except at intersections where the movement of traffic is
being regulated by a peace officer or by traffic signal. Every pedestrian crossing
a highway within a business or residential district, at any point other than a
crosswalk shall yield the right of way to vehicles upon the highway.
d. The driver of a vehicle upon a highway shall bring to a full stop such vehicle
before traversing any "through highway" or railroad crossing: Provided, that
when it is apparent that no hazard exists, the vehicle may be slowed down to
five miles per hour instead of bringing it to a full stop.
SEC. 43. Exception to the right of way rule.
a. The driver of a vehicle entering a highway from a private road or drive shall
yield the right of way to all vehicles-approaching on such highway.
b. The driver of a vehicle upon a highway shall yield the right of way to police
or fire department vehicles and ambulances when such vehicles are operated
on official business and the drivers thereof sound audible signal of their
approach.
c. The driver of a vehicle entering a "through high way" or a "stop intersection"
shall yield the right of way to all vehicles approaching in either direction on
such "through highway": Provided, That nothing in this sub section shall be
construed as relieving the driver of any vehicle being operated on a "through
highway" from the duty of driving with due regard for the safety of vehicles
entering such "through highway" nor as protecting the said driver from the
consequence of an arbitrary exercise of such right of way.
SEC. 44. Signals on starting, stopping or turning.
a. The driver of any vehicle upon a highway, before starting, stopping or
turning from a direct line, shall; first see that such movement can be made in
safety, and if any pedestrian may be affected by such movement, shall give a
clearly audible signal by sounding the horn, and whenever the operation of any
other vehicle approach-in or following may be affected by such movement, shall
give a signal plainly visible to the driver of such other: vehicles of the intention
to make such movement.
b. The signal herein required shall be given by means of extending the hand
and arm beyond the left side of the vehicle, or by an approved mechanical or
electrical signal device.
ARTICLE IV. —Turning and Parking
SEC. 45. Turning at intersections.
a. The driver of a vehicle intending to run to the right at an intersection shall
approach such intersection in the lane for traffic nearest to the right-hand side
of the highway and, in turning, shall keep as close as possible to the right-
hand curb or edge of the highway.
b. The driver of a vehicle intending to turn to the left shall approach such
intersection in the lane for traffic to the right of and nearest to the center line
of the highway, and, in turning, shall pass to the left of the center of the
intersection, except that, upon highways lane for traffic and upon one-way
highways, a left turn shall be made from the left lane of traffic in the direction
in which the vehicle is proceeding.
c. For the purpose of this section, the center of the intersection shall mean the
meeting point of the medial lines of the highways intersecting one another,
except when it is occupied by a monument, grass plot or any permanent
structure, other than a traffic control device.
SEC. 46. Parking prohibited in specified places. —No driver shall park a
vehicle, or permit it to stand, whether attended or unattended, upon a highway
in any of the following places:
a. Within an intersection
b. On a crosswalk
c. Within six meters of the intersection of curb lines.
d. Within four meters of the driveway entrance to and fire station.
e. Within four meters of a fire hydrant
f. In front of a private driveway
g. On the roadway side of any vehicle stopped or parked at the curb or edge of
the highway
h. At any place where official signs have been erected prohibiting parking.
SEC. 47. Parked vehicle. —Whenever a motor vehicle is parked unattended
on any highway, the driver thereof must turn off the ignition switch and stop
the motor and notch effectively the hand brake.
ARTICLE V.—Miscellaneous Traffic Rules
SEC. 48. Reckless driving. —No person shall operate a motor vehicle on any
highway recklessly or without reasonable caution considering the width, traffic,
grades, crossing, curvatures, visibility and other conditions of the highway and
the conditions of the atmosphere and weather, or so as to endanger the
property or the safety or rights of any person or so as to cause excessive or
unreasonable damage to the highway.
SEC. 49. Right of way for police and other emergency vehicles. —Upon
the approach of any police or fire department vehicle, or of an ambulance
giving audible signal, the driver of every other vehicle shall immediately drive
the same to a position as near as possible and parallel to the right-hand edge
or curb of the highway, clear of any intersection of highways, and shall stop
and remain in such position, unless otherwise directed by a peace officer, until
such vehicle shall have passed.
SEC. 50. Tampering with vehicles. —No unauthorized person shall sound
the horn, handle the levers or set in motion or in any way tamper with or
damage or deface any motor vehicle.
SEC. 51. Hitching to a vehicle. —No person shall hang on to, or ride on, the
outside or the rear end of any vehicle, and no person on a bicycle, roller skate
or other similar device, shall hold fast to or hitch on to any moving vehicle, and
no driver shall knowingly permit any person to hang on to or ride, the outside
or rear end of his vehicle or allow any person on a bicycle, roller skate or other
similar device to hold fast or hitch to his vehicle.
SEC. 52. Driving or parking on sidewalk. —No person shall drive or park a
motor vehicle upon or along any sidewalk, path or alley not intended for
vehicular traffic or parking.
SEC. 53. Driving while under the influence of liquor or narcotic drug. —
No person shall drive a motor vehicle while under the influence of liquor or
narcotic drug.
SEC. 54. Obstruction of traffic. —No person shall drive his motor vehicle in
such a manner as to obstruct or impede the passage of any vehicle, nor, while
discharging or taking on passengers or loading or unloading freight, obstruct
the free passage of other vehicles on the highway.
SEC. 55. Duty of driver in case of accident. —In the event that any accident
should occur as a result of the operation of a motor vehicle upon a highway,
the driver present, shall show his driver's license, give his true name and
address and also the true name and address of the owner of the motor vehicle.
No driver of a motor vehicle concerned in a vehicular accident shall leave the
scene of the accident without aiding the victim, except under any of the
following circumstances:
1. If he is in imminent danger of being seriously harmed by any person or
persons by reason of the accident;
2. If he reports the accident to the nearest officer of the law; or
3. If he has to summon a physician or nurse to aid the victim.

CHAPTER V.—PENAL AND OTHER PROVISIONS

ARTICLE I.—Penalties
SEC. 56. Penalty for violation. —The following penalties shall be imposed for
violations of this Act:
a. For registering later than seven days after acquiring title to an unregistered
motor vehicle or after conversion of a registered motor vehicle requiring larger
registration fee than that for which it was originally registered, or for renewal of
a delinquent registration, the penalty shall be a fine fifty per cent of the
registration fees corresponding to the portion of the year for which the vehicle
is registered for use.
b. For failure to sign driver's license or to carry same while driving, twenty
pesos fine.
c. Driving a vehicle with a delinquent or invalid driver's license, fifty pesos fine.
d. Driving a motor vehicle with delinquent, suspended or invalid registration,
or without registration or without the proper license plate for the current year,
three hundred pesos fine.
e. Driving a motor vehicle without first securing a driver's license, three
hundred pesos fine.
f. Driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of liquor or narcotic drug, a
fine of not less than two hundred pesos nor more than five hundred pesos, or
imprisonment of not more than three months, or both, at the discretion of the
Court.
g. Violation of Sections thirty-two, thirty-four (a), (b) and (b-1), thirty-five and
forty-six a fine not exceeding one hundred pesos: Provided, however, that in the
case of violation of Section 34(b) the vehicle or vehicles affected may not be
allowed to operate unless the requirements provided in this section are
compiled with.
h. Violations of Sections forty-nine, fifty and fifty-two, a fine not exceeding fifty
pesos.
i. For making, using or attempting to make or use a driver's license, badge,
certificate or registration, number plate, tag or permit in imitation or similitude
of those issued under this Act, or intended to be used as or for a legal license,
badge, certificate, plate, tag or permit or with intent to sell or otherwise dispose
of the same to another, or falsely or fraudulently represent as valid and in force
any driver's license, badge, certificate, plate, tag or permit issued under this
Act which is delinquent or which has been suspended or revoked, a fine of not
exceeding three hundred pesos.
j. For using private passenger automobiles, private trucks, private motorcycles,
and motor wheel attachments for hire, in violation of Section seven,
subsections (a), (6), and (c), of this Act, a fine of two hundred pesos and
suspension of driver's license for a period of three months for the first
conviction; a fine of three hundred pesos and six months imprisonment for the
second conviction; and an imprisonment of one year and permanent revocation
of the driver's license for the third conviction.
k. For permitting, allowing, consenting to, or tolerating the use of a privately-
owned motor vehicle for hire in violation of Section seven, subsections (a), (b),
and (c), of this Act, there shall be imposed upon the owner of the vehicle a fine
of five hundred pesos and the certificate of registration shall be suspended for
a period of three months for the first conviction, and an increase of one
hundred pesos in the fine and one month's suspension of the registration for
each subsequent conviction.
l. For violation of any provisions of this Act or regulations promulgated
pursuant hereto, not hereinbefore specifically punished, a fine of not less than
ten or more than fifty pesos shall be imposed.
m. In the event an offender cannot pay any fine imposed pursuant to the
provisions of this Act, he shall be made to undergo subsidiary imprisonment as
provided for in the Revised Penal Code.
n. If, as the result of negligence or reckless or unreasonable fast driving, any
accident occurs resulting in death or injury of any person, the motor vehicle
operator at fault shall, upon conviction, be punished under the provisions of
the Revised Penal Code.
SEC. 57. Punishment for other offenses. —The conviction of any person for
any offense under this Act shall not bar his prosecution for any other offense
which may have been committed by such person concurrently with the
commission of the offense of which he was convicted or in doing the act or
series of acts which constituted the offense of which he was convicted.
SEC. 58. Duty of clerks of court. —It is hereby made the duty of clerks of the
Court of First Instance, the City Court or Municipal Court trying traffic
violation cases to certify to the Commission the result of any case, whether
criminal or civil, involving violations of any provision of this Act or of other laws
and ordinances relating to motor vehicles. Said certificate shall specifically
contain the name of the driver or owner of the vehicle involved, his address, the
number of his license and/or of the certificate or registration of his vehicle, and
the date thereof, and the offense of which he was convicted or acquitted.
ARTICLE II. —Collection of Fees, Taxes and Fines, Liens, Allotment of
Funds
SEC. 59. (a) Collection of fees; national and local taxes; toll fees. —The
collection of all fees, taxes, and fines, under the provisions of this Act shall be
made in accordance with regulations to be prescribed by the Commissioner
and approved jointly by the Auditor General.
(b) No taxes or fees other than those prescribed in this Act shall be imposed for
the registration or operation or on the ownership of any motor vehicle, or for
the exercise of the profession of chauffeur, by any municipal corporation, the
provisions of any city charter to the contrary notwithstanding: Provided,
however, That any provincial board, city or municipal council or board or other
competent authority may enact and collect such reasonable and equitable toll
fees for the use of such bridges and ferries, within their respective jurisdiction,
as may be authorized and approved by the Secretary of Public Works and
Communications, and also for the use of such public roads, as may be
authorized by the President of the Philippines upon recommendation of the
Secretary of Public Works and Communications, but in none of these cases
shall any toll fees be charged or collected until and unless the approved
schedule of tolls has been posted legibly in a conspicuous place at such toll
station.
SEC. 60. The lien upon motor vehicles. —Any balance of fees for
registration, re-registration or delinquent registration of a motor vehicle,
remaining unpaid and all fines imposed upon any vehicle owner, shall
constitute a first lien upon the motor vehicle concerned.
The Commission is hereby vested with authority to issue a warrant of
constructive or actual distraint or and levy to any owner of motor vehicle who
has any balance of fees for registration, re-registration or delinquent
registration of a motor vehicle remaining unpaid, which upon demand by the
Commissioner of the Land Transportation Commission or any of his deputies
executing such warrant, the owner of the said vehicle shall surrender same at
the time demanded, except when the attachment or execution is under any
judicial process. Any owner who fails or refuses to surrender any of such
property or vehicle not so surrendered shall be punished by a fine not
exceeding the amount of the fees (including penalties and interests, if any) for
the collection of which such warrant has been issued, together with the costs
and interests, if any, from the time of such surrender. In addition, such owner
shall be punished by a fine of not more than three hundred pesos or an
imprisonment not more than six months, or both.
SEC. 61. Disposal of monies collected.—Monies collected under the
provisions of this Act shall be deposited in a special trust account in the
National Treasury to constitute the Highway Special Fund, which shall be
apportioned and expended in accordance with the provisions of the "Philippine
Highway Act of 1953": Provided, however, That the amount necessary to
maintain and equip the Land Transportation Commission but not to exceed
fifteen per cent of the total collections during any one year, shall be set aside
for the purpose.
ARTICLE III. —Final Provisions
SEC. 62. No provincial board, city or municipal board or council shall enact or
enforce any ordinance or resolution in conflict with the provisions of this Act,
or prohibiting any deputy or agent of the Commission to enforce this Act within
their respective territorial jurisdiction and the provisions of any charter to the
contrary notwithstanding.
SEC. 63. Repeal of laws and ordinances.—Act Numbered Thirty-nine
hundred ninety-two, as amended, and all laws, executive orders, ordinances,
resolutions, regulations, or parts thereof in conflict with the provisions of this
Act are repealed: Provided, however, That nothing contained in this Act shall be
construed as limiting or superseding any provisions of the Public Service Act,
as amended, with respect to the control by the Public Service Commission of
motor vehicles operating as public service, nor shall any provision of this Act
be construed as limiting or abridging the powers conferred upon arid exercised
by the Public Service Commission with regards to the control and supervision
of the operation of such motor vehicles as public service.
SEC. 64. Appropriation.—To carry out effectively the provisions of this Act,
the amount of two hundred fifty thousand pesos is hereby appropriated out of
the fees collected under this Act, in addition to the appropriations provided in
the General Appropriations Act, for the expense of this Commission for the
fiscal year beginning July first, nineteen hundred and sixty-four, to June
thirtieth, nineteen hundred and sixty-five: Provided, however, That any savings
in the appropriations of the Motor Vehicles Office for the fiscal year beginning
July first, nineteen hundred and sixty-three, to June thirtieth, nineteen
hundred and sixty-four shall likewise be available for this purpose.
SEC. 65. Separability. —If any provision of this Act or the application thereof
to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the Act, and the
application of such provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be
affected thereby.
SEC. 66. Effectivity. —This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Approved, June 20, 1964.
 Republic Act No. 8749
June 23, 1999
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A COMPREHENSIVE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
POLICY AND FOR OTHER PURPOSE

CHAPTER I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
ARTICLE I. BASIC AIR QUALITY POLICIES
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Clean
Air Act of 1999."
SEC. 2. Declaration of Principles. - The State shall protect and advance the
right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the
rhythm and harmony of nature.
The State shall promote and protect the global environment to attain
sustainable development while recognizing the primary responsibility of local
government units to deal with environmental problems.
The State recognizes that the responsibility of cleaning the habitat and
environment is primarily area-based.
The State also recognizes the principle that "polluters must pay."
Finally, the State recognizes that a clean and healthy environment is for the
good of all and should therefore be the concern of all.
SEC. 3. Declaration of Policies. - The State shall pursue a policy of balancing
development and environmental protection. To achieve this end, the framework
for sustainable development shall be pursued. It shall be the policy of the State
to:
a. Formulate a holistic national program of air pollution management that shall
be implemented by the government through proper delegation and effective
coordination of functions and activities;
b. Encourage cooperation and self-regulation among citizens and industries
through the application of market-based instruments;
c. Focus primarily on pollution prevention rather than on control and provide
for a comprehensive management program for air pollution;
d. Promote public information and education and to encourage the
participation of an informed and active public in air quality planning and
monitoring; and
e. Formulate and enforce a system of accountability for short and long-term
adverse environmental impact of a project, program or activity. This shall
include the setting up of a funding or guarantee mechanism for clean-up and
environmental rehabilitation and compensation for personal damages.
SEC. 4. Recognition of Rights. - Pursuant to the above-declared principles,
the following rights of citizens are hereby sought to be recognized and the State
shall seek to guarantee their enjoyment:
a. The right to breathe clean air;
b. The right to utilize and enjoy all natural resources according to the principle
of sustainable development;
c. The right to participate in the formulation, planning, implementation and
monitoring of environmental policies and programs and in the decision-making
process;
d. The right to participate in the decision-making process concerning
development policies, plans and programs, projects or activities that may have
adverse impact on the environment and public health;
e. The right to be informed of the nature and extent of the potential hazard of
any activity, undertaking or project and to be served timely notice of any
significant rise in the level of pollution and the accidental or deliberate release
into the atmosphere of harmful or hazardous substances;
f. The right of access to public records which a citizen may need to exercise his
or her rights effectively under this Act;
g. The right to bring action in court or quasi-judicial bodies to enjoin all
activities in violation of environmental laws and regulations, to compel the
rehabilitation and cleanup of affected area, and to seek the imposition of penal
sanctions against violators of environmental laws; and
h. The right to bring action in court for compensation of personal damages
resulting from the adverse environmental and public health impact of a project
or activity.
ARTICLE TWO
SEC. 5. Definitions. - As used in this Act:
a. "Air pollutant" means any matter found in the atmosphere other than
oxygen, nitrogen, water vapor, carbon dioxide, and the inert gases in their
natural or normal concentrations, that is detrimental to health or the
environment, which includes but not limited to smoke, dust, soot, cinders, fly
ash, solid particles of any kind, gases, fumes, chemical mists, steam and radio-
active substances;
b. "Air pollution" means any alteration of the physical, chemical and biological
properties of the atmospheric air, or any discharge thereto of any liquid,
gaseous or solid substances that will or is likely to create or to render the air
resources of the country harmful, detrimental, or injurious to public health,
safety or welfare or which will adversely affect their utilization for domestic,
commercial, industrial, agricultural, recreational, or other legitimate purposes;
c. "Ambient air quality guideline values" mean the concentration of air over
specified periods classified as short-term and long-term which are intended to
serve as goals or objectives for the protection of health and/or public welfare.
These values shall be used for air quality management purposes such as
determining time trends, evaluating stages of deterioration or enhancement of
the air quality, and in general, used as basis for taking positive action in
preventing, controlling, or abating air pollution;
d. "Ambient air quality" means the general amount of pollution present in a
broad area; and refers to the atmosphere's average purity as distinguished
from discharge measurements taken at the source of pollution;
e. "Certificate of Conformity" means a certificate issued by the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources to a vehicle manufacturer/assembler or
importer certifying that a particular new vehicle or vehicle type meets the
requirements provided under this Act and its rules and regulations;
f. "Department" means the Department of Environment and Natural Resources;
g. "Eco-profile" means the geographic-based instrument for planners and
decision-makers which present an evaluation of the environmental quality and
carrying capacity of an area. It is the result of the integration of primary and
secondary data and information on natural resources and anthropogenic
activities on the land which are evaluated by various environmental risk
assessment and forecasting methodologies that enable the Department to
anticipate the type of development control necessary in the planning area;
h. "Emission" means any air contaminant, pollutant, gas stream or unwanted
sound from a known source which is passed into the atmosphere;
i. "Greenhouse gases" mean those gases that can potentially or can reasonably
be expected to induce global warming, which include carbon dioxide, methane,
oxides of nitrogen, chlorofluorocarbons, and the like;
j. "Hazardous substances" mean those substances which present either: (1)
short-term acute hazards such as acute toxicity by ingestion, inhalation, or
skin absorption, corrosivity or other skin or eye contact hazard or the risk of
fire explosion; or (2) long-term toxicity upon repeated exposure, carcinogenicity
(which in some cases result in acute exposure but with a long latent period),
resistance to detoxification process such as biodegradation, the potential to
pollute underground or surface waters;
k. "Infectious waste" means that portion of medical waste that could transmit
an infectious disease;
l. "Medical waste" means the materials generated as a result of patient
diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of human beings or animals;
m. "Mobile source" means any vehicle propelled by or through combustion of
carbon-based or other fuel, constructed and operated principally for the
conveyance of persons or the transportation of property or goods;
n. "Motor vehicle" means any vehicle propelled by a gasoline or diesel engine or
by any means other than human or animal power, constructed and operated
principally for the conveyance of persons or the transportation of property or
goods in a public highway or street open to public use;
o. "Municipal waste" means the waste materials generated from communities
within a specific locality;
p. "New vehicle" means a vehicle constructed entirely from new parts that has
never been sold or registered with the DOTC or with the appropriate agency or
authority, and operated on the highways of the Philippines, any foreign state or
country;
q. "Octane Rating or the Anti-Knock Index (AKI)" means the rating of the anti-
knock characteristics of a grade or type of automotive gasoline as determined
by dividing by two (2) the sum of the Research Octane Number (RON), plus the
Motor Octane Number (MON); the octane requirement, with respect to
automotive gasoline for use in a motor vehicle or a class thereof, whether
imported, manufactured, or assembled by a manufacturer, shall refer to the
minimum octane rating of such automotive gasoline which such manufacturer
recommends for the efficient operation of such motor vehicle, or a substantial
portion of such class, without knocking;
r. "Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS)" mean those substances that
significantly deplete or otherwise modify the ozone layer in a manner that is
likely to result in adverse effects on human health and the environment such
as, but not limited to, chlorofluorocarbons, halons, and the like;
s. "Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)" mean the organic compounds that
persist in the environment, bioaccumulate through the food web, and pose a
risk of causing adverse effects to human health and the environment. These
compounds resist photolytic, chemical and biological degradation, which shall
include but not be limited to dioxin, furan, Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs),
organochlorine pesticides, such as aldrin, dieldrin, DDT, hexachlorobenzene,
lindane, toxaphere and chlordane;
t. "Poisonous and toxic fumes" means any emissions and fumes which are
beyond internationally-accepted standards, including but not limited to World
Health Organization (WHO) guideline values;
u. "Pollution control device" means any device or apparatus used to prevent,
control or abate the pollution of air caused by emissions from identified
pollution sources at levels within the air pollution control standards
established by the Department;
v. "Pollution control technology" means the pollution control devices,
production processes, fuel combustion processes or other means that
effectively prevent or reduce emissions or effluent;
w. "Standard of performance" means a standard for emissions of air pollutant
which reflects the degree of emission limitation achievable through the
application of the best system of emission reduction, taking into account the
cost of achieving such reduction and any non-air quality health and
environmental impact and energy requirement which the Department
determines, and adequately demonstrates; and
x. "Stationary source" means any building or immobile structure, facility or
installation which emits or may emit any air pollutant.

CHAPTER 2
AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
ARTICLE ONE: GENERAL PROVISIONS
SEC. 6. Air Quality Monitoring and Information Network. - The
Department shall prepare an annual National Air Quality Status Report which
shall be used as the basis in formulating the Integrated Air Quality
Improvement Framework, as provided for in Section 7. The said report shall
include, but shall not be limited to the following:
a. Extent of pollution in the country, per type of pollutant and per type of
source, based on reports of the Department's monitoring stations; Analysis and
evaluation of the current state, trends and projections of air pollution at the
various levels provided herein;
b. Identification of critical areas, activities, or projects which will need closer
monitoring or regulation;
c. Recommendations for necessary executive and legislative action; and
d. Other pertinent qualitative and quantitative information concerning the
extent of air pollution and the air quality performance rating of industries in
the country.
The Department, in cooperation with the National Statistical Coordination
Board (NSCB), shall design and develop an information network for data
storage, retrieval and exchange.
The Department shall serve as the central depository of all data and
information related to air quality.
SEC. 7. Integrated Air Quality Improvement Framework. - The Department
shall, within six (6) months after the effectivity of this Act, establish, with the
participation of LGUs, NGOs, POs, the academe and other concerned entities
from the private sector, formulate and implement the Integrated Air Quality
Improvement Framework for a comprehensive air pollution management and
control program. The framework shall, among others, prescribe the emission
reduction goals using permissible standards, control strategies and control
measures to be undertaken within a specified time period, including cost-
effective use of economic incentives, management strategies, collective action,
and environmental education and information.
The Integrated Air Quality Improvement Framework shall be adopted as the
official blueprint with which all government agencies must comply with to
attain and maintain ambient air quality standards.
SEC. 8. Air Quality Control Action Plan. - Within six (6) months after the
formulation of the framework, the Department shall, with public participation,
formulate and implement an air quality control action plan consistent with
Section 7 of this Act. The action plan shall:
a. Include enforceable emission limitations and other control measures, means
or techniques, as well as schedules and time tables for compliance, as may be
necessary or appropriate to meet the applicable requirements of this Act;
b. Provide for the establishment and operation of appropriate devices, methods,
systems and procedures necessary to monitor, compile and analyze data on
ambient air quality;
c. Include a program to provide for the following: (1) enforcement of the
measures described in subparagraph (a); (2) regulation of the modification and
construction of any stationary source within the areas covered by the plan, in
accordance with land use policy to ensure that ambient air quality standards
are achieved;
d. Contain adequate provisions, consistent with the provisions of this Act,
prohibiting any source or other types of emissions activity within the country
from emitting any air pollutant in amounts which will significantly contribute
to the non-attainment or will interfere with the maintenance by the
Department of any such ambient air quality standard required to be included
in the implementation plan to prevent significant deterioration of air quality or
to protect visibility;
e. Include control strategies and control measures to be undertaken within a
specified time period, including cost effective use of economic incentives,
management strategies, collection action, and environmental education and information;
f. Designate air sheds; and
g. All other measures necessary for the effective control and abatement of air
pollution.
The adoption of the plan shall clarify the legal effects on the financial,
manpower and budgetary resources of the affected government agencies, and
on the alignment of their programs with the plans.
In addition to direct regulations, the plan shall be characterized by a
participatory approach to the pollution problem. The involvement of private
entities in the monitoring and testing of emissions from mobile and/or
stationary sources shall be considered.
Likewise, the LGUs, with the assistance from the Department, shall prepare
and develop an action plan consistent with the Integrated Air Quality
Improvement Framework to attain and maintain the ambient air quality
standards within their respective airsheds as provided in Section 9 hereof.
The local government units shall develop and submit to the Department a
procedure for carrying out the action plan for their jurisdiction. The
Department, however, shall maintain its authority to independently inspect the
enforcement procedure adopted. The Department shall have the power to
closely supervise all or parts of the air quality action plan until such time the
local government unit concerned can assume the function to enforce the
standards set by the Department.
A multi-sectoral monitoring team with broad public representation shall be
convened by the Department for each LGU to conduct periodic inspections of
air pollution sources to assess compliance with the emission limitations
contained in their permits.
SEC. 9. Airsheds. - Pursuant to Section 8 of this Act, the designation of
airsheds shall be on the basis of, but not limited to areas with similar climate,
meteorology and topology which affect the interchange and diffusion of
pollutants in the atmosphere, or areas which share common interest or face
similar development programs, prospects or problems.
For a more effective air quality management, a system of planning and
coordination shall be established and a common action plan shall be
formulated for each airshed.
To effectively carry out the formulated action plans, a Governing Board is
hereby created, hereinafter referred to as the Board.
The Board shall be headed by the Secretary of the Department of Environment
and Natural Resources as chairman. The members shall be as follows:
a. Provincial Governors from areas belonging to the airshed;
b. City/Municipal Mayors from areas belonging to the airshed;
c. A representative from each concerned government agency;
d. Representatives from people's organizations;
e. Representatives from nongovernment organizations; and
f. Representatives from the private sector.
g. The Board shall perform the following functions:
h. Formulation of policies;
i. Preparation of a common action plan;
j. Coordination of functions among its members; and
k. Submission and publication of an annual Air Quality Status Report for each
airshed.
Upon consultation with appropriate local government authorities, the
Department shall, from time to time, revise the designation of airsheds utilizing
eco-profiling techniques and undertaking scientific studies.
Emissions trading may be allowed among pollution sources within an airshed.
SEC. 10. Management of Nonattainment Areas. - The Department shall
designate areas where specific pollutants have already exceeded ambient
standards as nonattainment areas. The Department shall prepare and
implement a program that will prohibit new sources of exceeded air pollutant
without a corresponding reduction in existing sources.
In coordination with other appropriate government agencies, the LGUs shall
prepare and implement a program and other measures including relocation,
whenever necessary, to protect the health and welfare of residents in the area.
For those designated as nonattainment areas, the Department, after
consultation with local government authorities, nongovernment organizations
(NGOs), people's organizations (POs) and concerned sectors may revise the
designation of such areas and expand its coverage to cover larger areas
depending on the condition of the areas.
SEC. 11. Air Quality Control Techniques. - Simultaneous with the issuance
of the guideline values and standards, the Department, through the research
and development program contained in this Act and upon consultation with
the appropriate advisory committees, government agencies and LGUs, shall
issue, and from time to time, revise information on air pollution control
techniques. Such information shall include:
a. Best available technology and alternative methods of prevention,
management and control of air pollution;
b. Best available technology economically achievable which shall refer to the
technological basis/standards for emission limits applicable to existing, direct
industrial emitters of non-conventional and toxic pollutants; and
c. Alternative fuels, processes and operating methods which will result in the
elimination or significant reduction of emissions.
Such information may also include data relating to the cost of installation and
operation, energy requirements, emission reduction benefits, and
environmental impact or the emission control technology.
The issuance of air quality guideline values, standards and information on air
quality control techniques shall be made available to the general public:
Provided, That the issuance of information on air quality control techniques
shall not be construed as requiring the purchase of certain pollution control
devices by the public.
SEC. 12. Ambient Air Quality Guideline Values and Standards. - The
Department, in coordination with other concerned agencies, shall review
and/or revise and publish annually a list of hazardous air pollutants with
corresponding ambient guideline values and/or standard necessary to protect
public health and safety, and general welfare. The initial list and values of the
hazardous air pollutants shall be as follows:
(a) For National Ambient Air Quality Guideline for Criteria Pollutants:

Short Terma Long Termb

Pollutants �g/Ncm ppm Averaging �g/Ncm ppm Averaging
Time Time
Suspended Particulate
Matterc - TSP 230d 24 hours 90 1 yeare
- PM-10 150f 24 hours 60 1 yeare
Sulfur Dioxidec 180 0.07 24 hours 80 0.03 1 year
Nitrogen Dioxide 150 0.08 24 hours --
Photochemical
Oxidants 140 0.07 1 hour -. -. -.
As Ozone 60 0.03 8 hours -- -- --
Carbon Monoxide 35 30 1 hour -- -- --
10 9 8 hours -- -- --
Leadg 1.5 3 monthsg 1.0 -- 1 year

a
Maximum limits represented by ninety-eight percentile (98%) values not to
exceed more than once a year.
b
Arithmetic mean
c
SO2 and Suspended Particulate matter are sampled once every six days when
using the manual methods.
A
minimum of twelve sampling days per quarter or forty-eight sampling days
each year is required for these methods. Daily sampling may be done in the
future once continuous analyses are procured and become available.
d
Limits for Total Suspended Particulate Matter with mass median diameter
less that 25-50 �m.
e
Annual Geometric Mean
f
Provisional limits for Suspended Particulate Matter with mass median
diameter less than 10 microns and below until sufficient monitoring data are
gathered to base a proper guideline.
g
Evaluation of this guideline is carried out for 24-hour averaging time and
averaged over three moving calendar months. The monitored average value for
any three months shall not exceed the guideline value.
(b) For National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Source Specific Air
Pollutants from Industrial Sources/Operations:
Pollutants1 Concentration2 Averaging Methods of Analysis/
Time Measurement
�g/Ncm ppm (min)
1. Ammonia 200 0.28 30 Nesslerization/Indo Phenol
2.Carbon Disulfide 30 0.01 30 Tisher Method
3. Chlorine and 100 0.03 5 Methyl Orange
Chlorine compounds
expressed as Cl2
4. Formaldehyde 50 0.04 30 Chromotropic acid
Method or MBTH
Colorimetic
Method
5.Hydrogen Chloride 200 0.13 30 Volhard Titration with
Iodine Solution
6. Hydrogen Sulfide; 100 0.07 30 Methylene Blue
7. Lead 20 30 AASc
8. Nitrogen Dioxide 375 0.20 30 Greiss-Saltzman
260 0.14 60
9. Phenol 100 0.03 30 4-Aminoustiphyline
10. Sulfur Dioxide 470 340 0.18 30 60 Colorometric-
Pararosaniline
0.13
11.Suspended 300 -- 30 Garvimetric
Particulate
Matter -TSP
--PM10 200 -- 60 -do-
Pertinent ambient standards for Antimony, Arsenic, Cadmium, Asbestos, Nitric
Acid and Sulfuric Acid Mists in the 1978 NPCC Rules and Regulations may be
considered as guides in determining compliance.
Ninety-eight percentile (98%) values of 30-minute sampling measured at
25�C and one atmosphere pressure.
Other equivalent methods approved by the department may be used.
The basis in setting up the ambient air quality guideline values and standards
shall reflect, among others, the latest scientific knowledge including
information on:
a. Variable factors, including atmospheric conditions, which of themselves or in
combination with other factors may alter the effects on public health or welfare
of such air pollutant:
b. The other types of air pollutants which may interact with such pollutant to
produce an adverse effect on public health or welfare; and
c. The kind and extent of all identifiable effects on public health or welfare
which may be expected from the presence of such pollutant in the ambient air,
in varying quantities.
The Department shall base such ambient air quality standards on World
Health Organization (WHO) standards, but shall not be limited to nor be less
stringent than such standards.
SEC. 13. Emission Charge System. - The Department, in case of industrial
dischargers, and the Department of Transportation and Communications
(DOTC), in case of motor vehicle dischargers, shall, based on environmental
techniques, design, impose on and collect regular emission fees from said
dischargers as part of the emission permitting system or vehicle registration
renewal system, as the case may be. The system shall encourage the industries
and motor vehicles to abate, reduce, or prevent pollution. The basis of the fees
include, but is not limited to, the volume and toxicity of any emitted pollutant.
Industries, which shall install pollution control devices or retrofit their existing
facilities with mechanisms that reduce pollution shall be entitled to tax
incentives such as but not limited to tax credits and/or accelerated
depreciation deductions.
SEC. 14. Air Quality Management Fund. -An Air Quality Management Fund
to be administered by the Department as a special account in the National
Treasury is hereby established to finance containment, removal, and clean-up
operations of the Government in air pollution cases, guarantee restoration of
ecosystems and rehabilitate areas affected by the acts of violators of this Act, to
support research, enforcement and monitoring activities and capabilities of the
relevant agencies, as well as to provide technical assistance to the relevant
agencies. Such fund may likewise be allocated per airshed for the undertakings
herein stated.
The Fund shall be sourced from the fines imposed and damages awarded to the
Republic of the Philippines by the Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB), proceeds
of licenses and permits issued by the Department under this Act, emission fees
and from donations, endowments and grants in the forms of contributions.
Contributions to the Fund shall be exempted from donor taxes and all other
taxes, charges or fees imposed by the Government.
SEC. 15. Air Pollution Research and Development Program. - The
Department, in coordination with the Department of Science and Technology
(DOST), other agencies, the private sector, the academe, NGOs and POs, shall
establish a National Research and Development Program for the prevention
and control of air pollution. The Department shall give special emphasis to
research on and the development of improved methods having industry-wide
application for the prevention and control of air pollution.
Such a research and development program shall develop air quality guideline
values and standards in addition to internationally-accepted standards. It shall
also consider the socio-cultural, political and economic implications of air
quality management and pollution control.
ARTICLE TWO: AIR POLLUTION CLEARANCES AND PERMITS FOR
STATIONARY SOURCES
SEC. 16. Permits. - Consistent with the provisions of this Act, the Department
shall have the authority to issue permits as it may determine necessary for the
prevention and abatement of air pollution.
Said permits shall cover emission limitations for the regulated air pollutants to
help attain and maintain the ambient air quality standards. These permits
shall serve as management tools for the LGUs in the development of their
action plan.
SEC. 17. Emission Quotas. - The Department may allow each regional
industrial center that is designated as special airshed to allocate emission
quotas to pollution sources within its jurisdiction that qualify under an
environmental impact assessment system programmatic compliance program
pursuant to the implementing rules and regulations of Presidential Decree No.
1586.
SEC. 18. Financial Liability for Environmental Rehabilitation. -As part of
the environmental management plan attached to the environmental compliance
certificate pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 1586 and rules and regulations
set therefor, the Department shall require program and project proponents to
put up financial guarantee mechanisms to finance the needs for emergency
response, clean-up or rehabilitation of areas that may be damaged during the
program or project's actual implementation. Liability for damages shall
continue even after the termination of a program or project, where such
damages are clearly attributable to that program or project and for a definite
period to be determined by the Department and incorporated into the
environmental compliance certificate.
Financial liability instruments may be in the form of a trust fund,
environmental insurance, surety bonds, letters of credit, as well as self-
insurance. The choice of the guarantee instrument or combinations thereof
shall depend, among others, on the assessment of the risks involved.
Proponents required to put up guarantee instruments shall furnish the
Department with evidence of availment of such instruments.
ARTICLE THREE: POLLUTION FROM STATIONARY SOURCES
SEC. 19. Pollution from Stationary Sources. - The Department shall, within
two (2) years from the effectivity of this Act, and every two (2) years thereafter,
review, or as the need therefor arises, revise and publish emission standards,
to further improve the emission standards for stationary sources of air
pollution. Such emission standards shall be based on mass rate of emission for
all stationary sources of air pollution based on internationally-accepted
standards, but not be limited to, nor be less stringent than such standards and
with the standards set forth in this section. The standards, whichever is
applicable, shall be the limit on the acceptable level of pollutants emitted from
a stationary source for the protection of the public's health and welfare.
With respect to any trade, industry, process and fuel-burning equipment or
industrial plant emitting air pollutants, the concentration at the point of
emission shall not exceed the following limits:
Pollutants Standard Maximum Method of
Applicable to Permissible Analysisa
Source Limits (mg/Ncm)
1. Antimony and Any source 10 as Sb AASb
its compounds
2. Arsenic and Any source 10 as As AASb
its compounds
3. Cadmium and Any source 10 as Cd AASb
its compounds
4. Carbon Any industrial 500 as CO Orsat Analysis
monoxide source
5. Copper and its Any industrial 100 as Cu AASb
compounds source
6. Hydrofluoric Any source other 50 as HF Titration with
Acids and than the Ammonium
Fluoride manufacture of Thiocyanate
compounds Aluminum from
Alumina

7. Hydrogen i)Geothermal c, d Cadmium Sulfide

Sulfide power plants Method

ii)Geothermal e Cadmium Sulfide

exploration and Method
 well-testing

iii)Any source 7 as H2S

other than (i) and
(ii)

8. Lead Any trade 10 as Pb AASb

industry or
process
9. Mercury Any source 5 as elemental AASb/ Cold-Vapor
Hg Technique or Hg
Analyzer

10. Nickel and its Any source 20 as Ni AASb

compounds,
except Nickel
Carbonyl
11. NOx i) Manufacture of 2,000 as acid Phenol-disulfonic
Nitric Acid and NOx and acid Method
calculated as
NO2
ii) Fuel burning Phenol-disulfonic
steam generators acid Method
Existing Source
New Source
* Coal-fired 1,500 as NO2
* Oil-fired

iii) Any source 1,000 as NO2 Phenol-disulfonic

other than (i) and
(ii)
500 as NO2
Existing Source
New Source

12. Phosphorus Any source 200 as P2O5 Spectrophotoimetry

Fentoxide
13. Zinc and its Any source 100 as Zn AASb
compounds

a
Other equivalent methods approved by the Department may be used.
" Atomic Absorption Spectrophometry
c
All new geothermal power plants starting construction by 01 January 1995
shall control HsS emissions to not more than 150g/GMW-Hr
" All existing geothermal power plants shall control HsS emissions to not more
than 200g/GMW-Hr. within 5 years from the date of efectivity of these revised
regulations.
e
Best practicable control technology for air emissions and liquid discharges.
Compliance with air and water quality standards is required.
1
Emission limit of Nickel Carbonyl shall not exceed 0.5 mg/Ncm. Provisional
Guideline
Provided, That the maximum limits in mg/Ncm particulates in said sources
shall be:
1. Fuel burning Equipment
(a) Urban or Industrial Area 150 mg/Ncm
(b) Other Area 200 mg/Ncm
2. Cement Plants (Kilns, etc.) 150 mg/Ncm
3. Smelting Furnaces 150 mg/Ncm
4. Other Stationary Sourcesa 200 mg/Ncm

a
Other Stationary Sources means a trade, process, industrial plant, or fuel
burning equipment other than thermal power plants, industrial boilers, cement
plants, incinerators and smelting furnaces
Provided, further, That the maximum limits for sulfur oxides in said sources
shall be:
(1) Existing Sources

(i) Manufacture of Sulfuric 2.0 gm. Ncm as SO3

Acid and Sulf(on)ation
Process
(ii) Fuel Burning Equipment 1.5 gm. Ncm as SO2
(iii) Other Stationary Sourcesa 1.0 gm. Ncm as SO3

(2) New Sources

(i) Manufacture of Sulfuric 1.5 gm. Ncm as SO3
Acid and Sulf(on)ation
Process
(ii) Fuel Burning Equipment 0.7 gm. Ncm as SO2
(iii) Other Stationary Sourcesa 0.2 gm. Ncm as SO3

a
Other Stationary Sources refer to existing and new stationary sources other
than those caused by the manufacture of sulfuric acid and sulfonation process,
fuel burning equipment and incineration.
For stationary sources of pollution not specifically included in the immediately
preceding paragraph, the following emission standards shall not be exceeded in
the exhaust gas:
I. Daily and Half Hourly Average Values
Daily Average Values Half Hourly Average
Values
Total dust 10 mg/m3 30 mg/m3
Gaseous and vaporous
organic substances,
expressed as total 10 mg/m3 20 mg/m3
organic carbon
Hydrogen chloride (HCl) 10 mg/m3 60 mg/m3

Hydrogen fluoride (HF) 1 mg/m3 4 mg/m3

Sulphur dioxide (SO2) 50 mg/m3 200 mg/m3
Nitrogen monoxide (NO) 200 mg/m3 400 mg/m3
and
nitrogen dioxide (NO2),
expressed as nitrogen
dioxide for incineration
plants
with a capacity
exceeding 3
tonnes per hour

Nitrogen monoxide (NO) 300 mg/m3

and
nitrogen dioxide (NO2),
expressed as nitrogen
dioxide
for incineration plants
with a
capacity of 3 tonnes per
hour or
less

II. All Average Values over the Sample Period of a Minimum of 4 and Maximum
of 8 Hours
Cadmium and its compounds, total 0.05 mg/m
expressed as cadmium (Cd)
Thallium and its compounds,
expressed as thallium (Tl)

Mercury and its compounds, 0.05 mg/m3

expressed as mercury (Hg)
Antimony and its compounds, total 0.5
expressed as antimony (Sb) mg/m3

Arsenic and its compounds,

expressed as arsenic (As)

Lead and its compounds, expressed

as lead (Pb)

Chromium and its compounds,

expressed as chromium (Cr)

Cobalt and its compounds, expressed

as cobalt (Co)

Copper and its compounds,

expressed as copper (Cu)

Manganese and its compounds,

expressed as manganese (Mn)

Nickel and its compounds, expressed

as nickel (Ni)
 Vanadium and its compounds,
expressed as vanadium (V)

Tin and its compounds, expressed as

tin (Sn)

These average values cover also gaseous and the vapor forms of the relevant
heavy metal emission as well as their compounds: Provided, That the emission
of dioxins and furans into the air shall be reduced by the most progressive
techniques: Provided further, That all average values of dioxin and furans
measured over the sample period of a minimum of 6 hours and a maximum of
8 hours must not exceed the limit value of 0.1 nanogram/m3.
Pursuant to Section 8 of this Act, the Department shall prepare a detailed
action plan setting the emission standards or standards of performance for any
stationary source, the procedure for testing emissions for each type of
pollutant, and the procedure for enforcement of said standards.
Existing industries, which are proven to exceed emission rates established by
the Department, in consultation with stakeholders, after a thorough, credible
and transparent measurement process shall be allowed a grace period of
eighteen (18) months for the establishment of an environmental management
system and the installation of an appropriate air pollution control device:
Provided, That an extension of not more than twelve (12) months may be
allowed by the Department on meritorious grounds.
SEC. 20. Ban on Incineration. - Incineration, hereby defined as the burning
of municipal, bio- medical and hazardous wastes, which process emits
poisonous and toxic fumes, is hereby prohibited: Provided, however, That the
prohibition shall not apply to traditional small-scale method of community/
neighborhood sanitation "siga," traditional, agricultural, cultural, health, and
food preparation and crematoria: Provided, further, That existing incinerators
dealing with bio-medical wastes shall be phased out within three (3) years after
the effectivity of this Act: Provided, finally, That in the interim, such units shall
be limited to the burning of pathological and infectious wastes, and subject to
close monitoring by the Department.
Local government units are hereby mandated to promote, encourage and
implement in their respective jurisdiction a comprehensive ecological waste
management that includes waste segregation, recycling and composting.
With due concern on the effects of climate change, the Department shall
promote the use of state-of-the-art, environmentally-sound and safe non-burn
technologies for the handling, treatment, thermal destruction, utilization, and
disposal of sorted, unrecycled, uncomposted municipal, bio-medical and
hazardous wastes.
ARTICLE FOUR: POLLUTION FROM MOTOR VEHICLES
SEC. 21. Pollution from Motor Vehicles. - (a) The DOTC shall implement the
emission standards for motor vehicles set pursuant to and as provided in this
Act. To further improve the emission standards, the Department shall review,
revise and publish the standards every two (2) years, or as the need arises.
It shall consider the maximum limits for all major pollutants to ensure
substantial improvement in air quality for the health, safety and welfare of the
general public.
The following emission standards for type approval of motor vehicles shall be
effective by the year 2003:
(a) For light duty vehicles, the exhaust emission limits for gaseous pollutants
shall be:
Emission Limits for Light Duty Vehicles
Type Approval (Directive 91/441/EEC)
CO HC + NOx PMa

(g/km) (g/km) (g/km)

2.72 0.97 0.14

a
for compression-ignition engines only
(b) For light commercial vehicles, the exhaust emission limit of gaseous
pollutants as a function of the the given reference mass shall be:
Emission Limits for Light Commercial Vehicles
Type Approval
(Directive 93/59/EEC)
Reference CO HC + NOx PM3
Weight (RW)
(kg) (g/km) (g/km) (g/km)

Category 1 1250< RW 2.72 0.97 0.14

Category 2 1250< RW < 5.17 1.4 0.19

1700

Category 3 RW>1700 6.9 1.7 0.25

a
for compression-ignition engines only
(c) For heavy duty vehicles, the exhaust emission limits of gaseous pollutants
shall be:
Emission Limits for Heavy Duty Vehicles
Type Approval
(Directive 91/542/EEC)
CO HC NOx PM

(g/kWh) (g/kWh) (g/kWh) (g/kWh)

4.5 1.1 8.0 0.36a

a
In the case of engines of 85 kW or less, the limit value for particular
emissions is increased by multiplying the quoted limit by a coefficient of 1.7
Fuel evaporative emission for spark-ignition engines shall not exceed 2.0 grams
hydrocarbons per test. Likewise, it shall not allow any emission of gases from
crankcase ventilation system into the atmosphere.
(b) The Department, in collaboration with the DOTC, DTI and LGUs, shall
develop an action plan for the control and management of air pollution from
motor vehicles consistent with the Integrated Air Quality Framework. The
DOTC shall enforce compliance with the emission standards for motor vehicles
set by the Department. The DOTC may deputize other law enforcement
agencies and LGUs for this purpose. To this end, the DOTC shall have the
power to:
1. Inspect and monitor the emissions of motor vehicles;
2. Prohibit or enjoin the use of motor vehicles or a class of motor vehicles in
any area or street at specified times; and
3. Authorize private emission testing centers duly accredited by the DTI.
(c) The DOTC, together with the DTI and the Department, shall establish the
procedures for the inspection of motor vehicles and the testing of their
emissions for the purpose of determining the concentration and/or rate of
emission of pollutants discharged by said sources.
(d) In order to ensure the substantial reduction of emissions from motor
vehicles, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), together with the DOTC
and the Department, shall formulate and implement a national motor vehicle
inspection and maintenance program that will promote efficient and safe
operation of all motor vehicles. In this regard, the DTI shall develop and
implement standards and procedures for the certification of training
institutions, instructors and facilities and the licensing of qualified private
service centers and their technicians as prerequisite for performing the testing,
servicing, repair and the required adjustment to the vehicle emission system.
The DTI shall likewise prescribe regulations requiring the disclosure of
odometer readings and the use of tamper-resistant odometers for all motor
vehicles including tamper-resistant fuel management systems for the effective
implementation of the inspection and maintenance program.
SEC. 22. Regulation of All Motor Vehicles and Engines. -Any imported new
or locally-assembled new motor vehicle shall not be registered unless it
complies with the emission standards set pursuant to this Act, as evidenced by
a Certificate of Conformity (COC) issued by the Department.
Any imported new motor vehicle engine shall not be introduced into commerce,
sold or used unless it complies with emission standards set pursuant to this
Act.
Any imported used motor vehicle or rebuilt motor vehicle using new or used
engines, major parts or components shall not be registered unless it complies
with the emission standards set pursuant to this Act.
In case of non-compliance, the importer or consignee may be allowed to modify
or rebuild the vehicle or engine so that it will be in compliance with applicable
emission standards.
No motor vehicle registration (MVR) shall be issued unless such motor vehicle
passes the emission testing requirement promulgated in accordance with this
Act. Such testing shall be conducted by the DOTC or its authorized inspection
centers within sixty (60) days prior to date of registration.
The DTI shall promulgate the necessary regulations prescribing the useful life
of vehicles and engines including devices in order to ensure that such vehicles
will conform to the emissions which they were certified to meet. These
regulations shall include provisions for ensuring the durability of emission
devices.
SEC. 23. Second-Hand Motor Vehicle Engines. - Any imported second-hand
motor vehicle engine shall not be introduced into commerce, sold or used
unless it complies with emission standards set pursuant to this Act.
ARTICLE FIVE: POLLUTION FROM OTHER SOURCES
SEC. 24. Pollution from Smoking. - Smoking inside a public building or an
enclosed public place including public vehicles and other means of transport or
in any enclosed area outside of one's private residence, private place of work or
any duly designated smoking area is hereby prohibited under this Act. This
provision shall be implemented by the LGUs.
SEC. 25. Pollution from Other Mobile Sources. - The Department, in
coordination with appropriate agencies, shall formulate and establish the
necessary standards for all mobile sources other than those referred to in
Section 21 of this Act. The imposition of the appropriate fines and penalties
from these sources for any violation of emission standards shall be under the
jurisdiction of the DOTC.

CHAPTER 3
FUELS, ADDITIVES, SUBSTANCES AND POLLUTANTS
ARTICLE ONE
SEC. 26. Fuels and Additives. - Pursuant to the Air Quality Framework to be
established under Section 7 of this Act, the Department of Energy (DOE), co-
chaired by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), in
consultation with the Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) of the DTI, the DOST,
the representatives of the fuel and automotive industries, academe and the
consumers shall set the specifications for all types of fuel and fuel-related
products, to improve fuel composition for increased efficiency and reduced
emissions: Provided, however, That the specifications for all types of fuel and
fuel-related products set-forth pursuant to this section shall be adopted by the
BPS as Philippine National Standards (PNS).
The DOE, shall also specify the allowable content of additives in all types of
fuels and fuel-related products. Such standards shall be based primarily on
threshold levels of health and research studies. On the basis of such
specifications, the DOE shall likewise limit the content or begin the phase-out
of additives in all types of fuels and fuel-related products as it may deem
necessary. Other agencies involved in the performance of this function shall be
required to coordinate with the DOE and transfer all documents and
information necessary for the implementation of this provision.
Consistent with the provisions of the preceding paragraphs under this section,
it is declared that:
a. not later than eighteen (18) months after the effectivity of this Act, no person
shall manufacture, import, sell, supply, offer for sale, dispense, transport or
introduce into commerce unleaded premium gasoline fuel which has an anti-
knock index (AKI) of not less than 87.5 and Reid vapor pressure of not more
than 9 psi. Within six (6) months after the effectivity of this Act, unleaded
gasoline fuel shall contain aromatics not to exceed forty-five percent (45%) by
volume and benzene not to exceed four percent (4%) by volume: Provided, That
by year 2003, unleaded gasoline fuel should contain aromatics not to exceed
thirty-five percent (35%) by volume and benzene not to exceed two percent (2%)
by volume;
b. not later than eighteen (18) months after the effectivity of this Act, no person
shall manufacture, import, sell, supply, offer for sale, dispense, transport or
introduce into commerce automotive diesel fuel which contains a concentration
of sulfur in excess of 0.20% by weight with a cetane number or index of not
less than forty-eight (48): Provided, That by year 2004, content of said sulfur
shall be 0.05% by weight; and
c. not later than eighteen (18) months after the effectivity of this Act, no person
shall manufacture, import, sell, supply, offer for sale, dispense, transport or
introduce into commerce industrial diesel fuel which contains a concentration
of sulfur in excess of 0.30% (by weight).
Every two (2) years thereafter or as the need arises, the specifications of
unleaded gasoline and of automotive and industrial diesel fuels shall be
reviewed and revised for further improvement in formulation and in accordance
with the provisions of this Act.
The fuels characterized above shall be commercially available. Likewise, the
same shall be the reference fuels for emission and testing procedures to be
established in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
Any proposed additive shall not in any way increase emissions of any of the
regulated gases which shall include, but not limited to carbon monoxide,
hydrocarbons, and oxides of nitrogen and particulate matter, in order to be
approved and certified by the Department.
SEC. 27. Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives. - The DOE, in
coordination with the Department and the BPS, shall regulate the use of any
fuel or fuel additive. No manufacturer, processor or trader of any fuel or
additive may import, sell, offer for sale, or introduce into commerce such fuel
or additive unless the same has been registered with the DOE. Prior to
registration, the manufacturer, processor or trader shall provide the DOE with
the following relevant information:
a. Product identity and composition to determine the potential health effects of
such fuels and additives;
b. Description of the analytical technique that can be used to detect and
measure the additive in any fuel;
c. Recommended range of concentration; and
d. Purpose in the use of the fuel and additive.
SEC. 28. Misfueling. - In order to prevent the disabling of any emission
control device by lead contamination, no person shall introduce or cause or
allow the introduction of leaded gasoline into any motor vehicle equipped with
a gasoline tank filler inlet and labeled "unleaded gasoline only." This
prohibition shall also apply to any person who knows or should know that
such vehicle is designed solely for the use of unleaded gasoline.
SEC. 29. Prohibition on Manufacture, Import and Sale of Leaded Gasoline and
of Engines and/or Components Requiring Leaded Gasoline. - Effective not later
than eighteen (18) months after the enactment of this Act, no person shall
manufacture, import, sell, offer for sale, introduce into commerce, convey or
otherwise dispose of, in any manner leaded gasoline and engines and
components requiring the use of leaded gasoline.
For existing vehicles, the DTI shall formulate standards and procedures that
will allow non-conforming engines to comply with the use of unleaded fuel
within five (5) years after the effectivity of this Act.

ARTICLE TWO: OTHER POLLUTANTS

SEC. 30. Ozone-Depleting Substances. - Consistent with the terms and
conditions of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone
Layer and other international agreements and protocols to which the
Philippines is a signatory, the Department shall phase out ozone-depleting
substances.
Within sixty (60) days after the enactment of this Act, the Department shall
publish a list of substances which are known to cause harmful effects on the
stratospheric ozone layer.
SEC. 31. Greenhouse Gases. - The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and
Astronomical Service Administration (PAGASA) shall regularly monitor
meteorological factors affecting environmental conditions including ozone
depletion and greenhouse gases and coordinate with the Department in order
to effectively guide air pollution monitoring and standard-setting activities.
The Department, together with concerned agencies and local government units,
shall prepare and fully implement a national plan consistent with the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and other international
agreements, conventions and protocols on the reduction of greenhouse gas
emissions in the country.
SEC. 32. Persistent Organic Pollutants. - The Department shall, within a
period of two (2) years after the enactment of this Act, establish an inventory
list of all sources of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in the country. The
Department shall develop short-term and long-term national government
programs on the reduction and elimination of POPs such as dioxins and
furans. Such programs shall be formulated within a year after the
establishment of the inventory list.
SEC. 33. Radioactive Emissions. -All projects which will involve the use of
atomic and/or nuclear energy, and will entail release and emission of
radioactive substances into the environment, incident to the establishment or
possession of nuclear energy facilities and radioactive materials, handling,
transport, production, storage, and use of radioactive materials, shall be
regulated in the interest of public health and welfare by the Philippine Nuclear
Research Institute (PNRI), in coordination with the Department and other
appropriate government agencies.

CHAPTER 4
INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISM
SEC. 34. Lead Agency. - The Department, unless otherwise provided herein,
shall be the primary government agency responsible for the implementation
and enforcement of this Act. To be more effective in this regard, the
Department's Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) shall be converted
from a staff bureau to a line bureau for a period of no more than two (2) years,
unless a separate, comprehensive environmental management agency is
created.
SEC. 35. Linkage Mechanism. - The Department shall consult, participate,
cooperate and enter into agreement with other government agencies, or with
affected nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) or people's organizations (POs),
or private enterprises in the furtherance of the objectives of this Act.
SEC. 36. Role of Local Government Units. - Local government units (LGUs)
shall share the responsibility in the management and maintenance of air
quality within their territorial jurisdiction. Consistent with Sections 7,8 and 9
of this Act, LGUs shall implement air quality standards set by the Board in
areas within their jurisdiction: Provided, however, that in case where the Board
has not been duly constituted and has not promulgated its standards, the
standards set forth in this Act shall apply.
The Department shall provide the LGUs with technical assistance, trainings
and a continuing capability-building program to prepare them to undertake full
administration of the air quality management and regulation within their
territorial jurisdiction.
SEC. 37. Environment and Natural Resources Office. -There may be
established an Environment and Natural Resources Office in every province,
city, or municipality which shall be headed by the environment and natural
resources officer and shall be appointed by the Chief Executive of every
province, city or municipality in accordance with the provisions of Section 484
of Republic Act No. 7160. Its powers and duties, among others, are:
a. To prepare comprehensive air quality management programs, plans and
strategies within the limits set forth in Republic Act No. 7160 and this Act
which shall be implemented within its territorial jurisdiction upon the approval
of the sanggunian;
b. To provide technical assistance and support to the governor or mayor, as the
case may be, in carrying out measures to ensure the delivery of basic services
and the provision of adequate facilities relative to air quality;
c. To take the lead in all efforts concerning air quality protection and
rehabilitation;
d. To recommend to the Board air quality standards which shall not exceed the
maximum permissible standards set by national laws;
e. To coordinate with other government agencies and nongovernmental
organizations in the implementation of measures to prevent and control air
pollution; and
f. Exercise such other powers and perform such duties and functions as may
be prescribed by law or ordinance: Provided however, That in provinces/cities/
municipalities where there are no environment and natural resources officers,
the local executive concerned may designate any of his official and/or chief of
office preferably the provincial, city or municipal agriculturist, or any of his
employee: Provided, finally, That in case an employee is designated as such, he
must have a sufficient experience in environmental and natural resources
management, conservation and utilization.
SEC. 38. Record-keeping, Inspection, Monitoring and Entry by the
Department. - The Department or its duly accredited entity shall, after proper
consultation and notice, require any person who owns or operates any
emission source or who is subject to any requirement of this Act to: (a)
establish and maintain relevant records; (b) make relevant reports; (c) install,
use and maintain monitoring equipment or methods; (d) sample emission, in
accordance with the methods, locations, intervals, and manner prescribed by
the Department; (e) keep records on control equipment parameters, production
variables or other indirect data when direct monitoring of emissions is
impractical; and (f) provide such other information as the Department may
reasonably require.
Pursuant to this Act, the Department, through its authorized representatives,
shall have the right of: (a) entry or access to any premises including documents
and relevant materials as referred to in the herein preceding paragraph; (b)
inspect any pollution or waste source, control device, monitoring equipment or
method required; and (c) test any emission.
Any record, report or information obtained under this section shall be made
available to the public, except upon a satisfactory showing to the Department
by the entity concerned that the record, report, or information, or parts thereof,
if made public, would divulge secret methods or processes entitled to protection
as intellectual property. Such record, report or information shall likewise be
incorporated in the Department's industrial rating system.
SEC. 39. Public Education and Information Campaign. - A continuing air
quality information and education campaign shall be promoted by the
Department, the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), the
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of
Agriculture (DA) and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA). Consistent with
Section 7 of this Act, such campaign shall encourage the participation of other
government agencies and the private sector including NGOs, POs, the
academe, environmental groups and other private entities in a multi-sectoral
information campaign.

CHAPTER 5
ACTIONS
SEC. 40. Administrative Action. -Without prejudice to the right of any
affected person to file an administrative action, the Department shall, on its
own instance or upon verified complaint by any person, institute
administrative proceedings against any person who violates:
Standards or limitation provided under this Act; or
Any order, rule or regulation issued by the Department with respect to such
standard or limitation.
SEC. 41. Citizen Suits. - For purposes of enforcing the provisions of this Act
or its implementing rules and regulations, any citizen may file an appropriate
civil, criminal or administrative action in the proper courts against:
a. Any person who violates or fails to comply with the provisions of this Act or
its implementing rules and regulations; or
b. The Department or other implementing agencies with respect to orders, rules
and regulations issued inconsistent with this Act; and/or
c. Any public officer who willfully or grossly neglects the performance of an act
specifically enjoined as a duty by this Act or its implementing rules and
regulations; or abuses his authority in the performance of his duty; or, in any
manner, improperly performs his duties under this Act or its implementing
rules and regulations: Provided, however, That no suit can be filed until after
thirty-day (30) notice has been given to the public officer and the alleged
violator concerned and no appropriate action has been taken thereon.
The court shall exempt such action from the payment of filing fees, except fees
for actions not capable of pecuniary estimations, and shall, likewise, upon
prima facie showing of the non-enforcement or violation complained of, exempt
the plaintiff from the filing of an injunction bond for the issuance of a
preliminary injunction.
Within thirty (30) days, the court shall make a determination if the complaint
herein is malicious and/or baseless and shall accordingly dismiss the action
and award attorney's fees and damages.
SEC. 42. Independence of Action. - The filing of an administrative suit
against such person/entity does not preclude the right of any other person to
file any criminal or civil action. Such civil action shall proceed independently.
SEC. 43. Suits and Strategic Legal Actions Against Public Participation and the
Enforcement of this Act. - Where a suit is brought against a person who filed
an action as provided in Section 41 of this Act, or against any person,
institution or government agency that implements this Act, it shall be the duty
of the investigating prosecutor or the court, as the case may be, to immediately
make a determination not exceeding thirty (30) days whether said legal action
has been filed to harass, vex, exert undue pressure or stifle such legal
recourses of the person complaining of or enforcing the provisions of this Act.
Upon determination thereof, evidence warranting the same, the court shall
dismiss the case and award attorney's fees and double damages.
This provision shall also apply and benefit public officers who are sued for acts
committed in their official capacity, there being no grave abuse of authority,
and done in the course of enforcing this Act.
SEC. 44. Lien Upon Personal and Immovable Properties of Violators. -
Fines and penalties imposed pursuant to this Act shall be liens upon personal
and immovable properties of the violator. Such lien shall, in case of insolvency
of the respondent violator, enjoy preference subsequent to laborer's wages
under Articles 2241 and 2242 of Republic Act No. 386, otherwise known as the
New Civil Code of the Philippines.

CHAPTER 6
FINES AND PENALTIES
SEC. 45. Violation of Standards for Stationary Sources. - For actual
exceedance of any pollution or air quality standards under this Act or its rules
and regulations, the Department, through the Pollution Adjudication Board
(PAB), shall impose a fine of not more than One hundred thousand pesos
(P100,000) for every day of violation against the owner or operator of a
stationary source until such time that the standards have been complied with.
For purposes of the application of the fines, the PAB shall prepare a fine rating
system to adjust the maximum fine based on the violator's ability to pay,
degree of willfulness, degree of negligence, history of noncompliance and degree
of recalcitrance: Provided, That in case of negligence, the first time offender's
ability to pay may likewise be considered by the Pollution Adjudication Board:
Provided, further, That in the absence of any extenuating or aggravating
circumstances, the amount of fine for negligence shall be equivalent to one-half
of the fine for willful violation.
The fines herein prescribed shall be increased by at least ten percent (10%)
every three (3) years to compensate for inflation and to maintain the deterrent
function of such fines.
In addition to the fines, the PAB shall order the closure, suspension of
development, construction, or operations of the stationary sources until such
time that proper environmental safeguards are put in place: Provided, that an
establishment found liable for a third offense shall suffer permanent closure
immediately. This paragraph shall be without prejudice to the immediate
issuance of an ex parte order for such closure, suspension of development or
construction, or cessation of operations during the pendency of the case upon
prima facie evidence that there is imminent threat to life, public health, safety
or general welfare, or to plant or animal life, or whenever there is an
exceedance of the emission standards set by the Department and/or the Board
and/or the appropriate LGU.
SEC. 46. Violation of Standards for Motor Vehicles. - No motor vehicle
shall be registered with the DOTC unless it meets the emission standards set
by the Department as provided in Section 21 hereof.
Any vehicle suspected of violation of emission standards through visual signs,
such as, but not limited to smoke-belching, shall be subject to an emission test
by a duly authorized emission testing center. For this purpose, the DOTC or its
authorized testing center shall establish a roadside inspection system. Should
it be shown that there was no violation of emission standards, the vehicle shall
be immediately released. Otherwise, a testing result indicating an exceedance
of the emission standards would warrant the continuing custody of the
impounded vehicle unless the appropriate penalties are fully paid, and the
license plate is surrendered to the DOTC pending the fulfillment of the
undertaking by the owner/operator of the motor vehicle to make the necessary
repairs so as to comply with the standards. A pass shall herein be issued by
the DOTC to authorize the use of the motor vehicle within a specified period
that shall not exceed seven (7) days for the sole purpose of making the
necessary repairs on the said vehicle. The owner/operator of the vehicle shall
be required to correct its defects and show proof of compliance to the
appropriate pollution control office before the vehicle can be allowed to be
driven on any public or subdivision roads.
In addition, the driver and operator of the apprehended vehicle shall undergo a
seminar on pollution control and management conducted by the DOTC and
shall also suffer the following penalties:
a. First offense - a fine not to exceed Two thousand pesos (P2,000);
b. Second offense - a fine not less than Two thousand pesos (P2,000) and not to
exceed Four thousand pesos (P4,000); and
c. Third offense - one (1) year suspension of the Motor Vehicle Registration
(MVR) and a fine of not less than Four thousand pesos (P4,000) and not more
than Six thousand pesos, (P6,000).
Any violation of the provisions of Section 21 paragraph (d) with regard to
national inspection and maintenance program, including technicians and
facility compliance shall be penalized with a fine of not less than Thirty
thousand pesos (P30,000) or cancellation of license of both the technician and
the center, or both, as determined by the DTI.
All law enforcement officials and deputized agents accredited to conduct vehicle
emissions testing and apprehensions shall undergo a mandatory training on
emission standards and regulations. For this purpose, the Department,
together with the DOTC, DTI, DOST, Philippine National Police (PNP) and other
concerned agencies and private entities shall design a training program.

SEC. 47. Fines and Penalties for Violations of Other Provisions in the
Act. - For violations of all other provisions provided in this Act and of the rules
and regulations thereof, a fine of not less than Ten thousand pesos (P10,000)
but not more than One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000) or six (6) months
to six (6) years imprisonment or both shall be imposed. If the offender is a
juridical person, the president, manager, directors, trustees, the pollution
control officer or the officials directly in charge of the operations shall suffer the
penalty herein provided.
SEC. 48. Gross Violations. - In case of gross violation of this Act or its
implementing rules and regulations, the PAB shall recommend to the proper
government agencies to file the appropriate criminal charges against the
violators. The PAB shall assist the public prosecutor in the litigation of the
case. Gross violation shall mean: (a) three (3) or more specific offenses within a
period of one (1) year; (b) three (3) or more specific offenses within three (3)
consecutive years; (c) blatant disregard of the orders of the PAB, such as but
not limited to the breaking of seal, padlocks and other similar devices, or
operating despite the existence of an order for closure, discontinuance or
cessation of operation; and (d) irreparable or grave damage to the environment
as a consequence of any violation or omission of the provisions of this Act.
Offenders shall be punished with imprisonment of not less than six (6) years
but not more than ten (10) years at the discretion of the court. If the offender is
a juridical person, the president, manager, directors, trustees, the pollution
control officer or the officials directly in charge of the operations shall suffer the
penalty herein provided.

CHAPTER 7
FINAL PROVISIONS
SEC. 49. Potential Loss or Shifts of Employment. - The Secretary of Labor
is hereby authorized to establish a compensation, retraining and relocation
program to assist workers laid off due to a company's compliance with the
provisions of this Act.
SEC. 50. Appropriations. -An amount of Seven hundred fifty million pesos
(P750,000,000) shall be appropriated for the initial implementation of this Act,
of which, the amount of Three hundred million pesos (P300,000,000) shall be
appropriated to the Department; Two hundred million pesos (P200,000,000) to
the DTI; One hundred fifty million pesos (P150,000,000) to the DOTC; and,
One hundred million pesos (P100,000,000) to the DOE.
Thereafter, the amount necessary to effectively carry out the provisions of this
Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act.
SEC. 51. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department, in
coordination with the Committees on Environment and Ecology of the Senate
and House of Representatives, respectively and other concerned agencies, shall
promulgate the implementing rules and regulations for this Act, within one (1)
year after the enactment of this Act: Provided, That rules and regulations
issued by other government agencies and instrumentalities for the prevention
and/or abatement of pollution not inconsistent with this Act shall supplement
the rules and regulations issued by the Department, pursuant to the provisions
of this Act.
The draft of the implementing rules and regulations shall be published and be
the subject of public consultations with affected sectors.
There shall be a mandatory review of the implementing rules and regulations
and standards set pursuant to the provisions of this Act.
SEC. 52. Report to Congress. - The Department shall report to Congress, not
later than March 30 of every year following the approval of this Act, the
progress of the pollution control efforts and make the necessary
recommendations in areas where there is need for legislative action.
SEC. 53. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee. -There is hereby
created a joint congressional oversight committee to monitor the
implementation of this Act. The committee shall be composed of five (5)
senators and five (5) representatives to be appointed by the Senate President
and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively. The oversight
committee shall be co-chaired by a senator and a representative designated by
the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives,
respectively.
The mandate given to the joint congressional oversight committee under this
Act shall be without prejudice to the performance of the duties and functions
by the respective existing oversight committees of the Senate and the House of
Representatives.
SEC. 54. Separability of Provisions. - If any provision of this Act or the
application of such provision to any person or circumstance is declared
unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act or the application of such provision
to other persons or circumstance shall not be affected by such declaration.
SEC. 55. Repealing Clause. - Presidential Decree No. 1181 is hereby
repealed. Presidential Decree Nos. 1152, 1586, and Presidential Decree No. 984
are partly modified. All other laws, orders, issuances, rules and regulations
inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 56. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from the date
of its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of
general circulation.
Approved: June 23, 1999.

Republic Act No. 8750

August 5, 1999
AN ACT REQUIRING THE MANDATORY COMPLIANCE BY MOTORISTS OF
PRIVATE AND PUBLIC VEHICLES TO USE SEAT BELT DEVICES, AND
REQUIRING VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS TO INSTALL SEAT BELT DEVICES
IN ALL THEIR MANUFACTURED VEHICLES

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Seat Belts Use Act
of 1999."
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
secure and safeguard its citizenry, particularly the passengers and drivers of
private and public motor vehicles, from the ruinous and extremely injurious
effects of vehicular accidents. Towards this end, the State shall pursue a more
proactive and preventive approach in order to secure the safety of the
passengers and drivers at all times with the mandatory enforcement of the use
of seat belt devices by the drivers and front seat passengers of private and
public motor vehicles.
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the term:
(a) "Motorist" shall refer to the driver of a motor vehicle.
(b) "Seat belt device" shall refer to any strap, webbing or similar device in the
form of pelvic restraint or lap belt, upper torso restraint or shoulder strap or a
combination thereof designed to secure a person in a motor vehicle in order to
mitigate the results of any accident, including all necessary buckles and other
fasteners, and all hardware designed for installing such seat belt device in a
motor vehicle.
(c) "Motor vehicle" shall refer to both private and public motor vehicle. The term
shall not include the tricycle and motorcycle.
(d) "Private motor vehicle" shall refer to any of the following:
(1) Any motor vehicle owned by individuals and juridical persons for
private use;
(2) Any motor vehicle owned by the National Government or any of its
agencies, instrumentalities or political subdivisions, including government-
owned or -controlled corporations or their subsidiaries for official use; and
(3) Any diplomatic vehicle.
(e) "Public motor vehicle" shall refer to public utility vehicle or vehicle for hire.
(f) "Motor vehicle of running engine" shall refer to a vehicle as stated herein,
operating and standing on any road or thoroughfare with engine running.
(g) "Front seat passengers" shall refer to persons on board a public utility
vehicle seated at the right side beside the driver for public utility jeepneys
(PUJs) and to passengers seated at the right side beside the driver and those at
the first row immediately behind the driver in the case of public utility buses
(PUBs) and to passengers seated on the right side beside the driver for private
motor vehicles.
SEC. 4. Mandatory Use of Seat Belts. - For their own safety, the driver and
front seat passengers of a public or private motor vehicle are required to wear
or use their seat belt devices while inside a vehicle of running engine on any
road or thoroughfare: Provided, that for private vehicles, except for jeeps,
jeepneys, vans, buses and such other private vehicles as may be determined in
the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), front and back seat passengers
are likewise required to use their seat belt devices at all times.
In the case of public motor vehicles, the driver shall be required to immediately
inform and require the front seat passengers upon boarding a vehicle of
running engine to wear the prescribed seat belts. Any passenger who refuses to
wear a seat belt shall not be allowed to continue his/her trip.
For special public service vehicles such as school services and other similar
vehicles as may be determined by the IRR, seat belt devices should be provided
and used by both drivers and front seat passengers as defined herein and the
first row passengers immediately behind the driver at all times while inside a
vehicle of running engine.
Operational motor vehicles, both public and private, which are not equipped
with the required seat belt devices, are given one (1) year from the issuance of
the IRR by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to retrofit appropriate seat belt
devices in their vehicles.
SEC. 5. Children Prohibited to Sit in Front Seat. - Infants and/or children
with ages six (6) years and below shall be prohibited to sit in the front seat of
any running motor vehicle.
SEC. 6. Coverage. - This Act, in the interest of public safety, shall apply to
drivers and front seat passengers of public and private motor vehicles and
other vehicles as may be determined by the IRR thereon.
SEC. 7. Provisions for Seat Belt. - This Act further requires car
manufacturers, assemblers and distributors to ensure that seat belt devices
are properly installed before the distribution and sale of the said vehicles as
determined by the IRR thereon: Provided, that manufacturers, assemblers and
distributors of jeepneys may install a pelvic restraint or lap belt only in the
driver's and front seat passengers' seats and this shall be considered as
substantial compliance with the requirements of this Act.
SEC. 8. Importation. - It shall be unlawful for any person to import or cause
the importation of any vehicle without appropriate and operational seat belt
devices as required herein and in accordance with the IRR thereon.
SEC. 9. Type of Seat Belt Devices Required. - The seat belt devices required
to be installed in all motor vehicles shall comply with the standards and
specifications established by the Bureau of Product Standards of the
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in consultation with the LTO of the
Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC): Provided, That the
seat belt devices installed in imported second-hand motor vehicles shall
conform to the standards and specifications of the Bureau of Product
Standards for purposes of importation and registration.
SEC. 10. Registration. - No new motor vehicle shall be allowed initial
registration and succeeding renewal of registration unless it is equipped with
the necessary seat belt devices. Renewal of registration of in-use vehicles
without necessary seat belt devices shall not be allowed one (1) year after the
passage of the IRR as specified in Section 11 of this Act. For this purpose, the
LTO shall include in the implementing guidelines a system of vehicle
registration where compliance with Section 4 hereof is required.
SEC. 11. Period of Implementation. - The LTO shall be the agency primarily
responsible in the enforcement and implementation of this Act. Within sixty
(60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the LTO shall formulate and issue the
necessary implementing rules, regulations and guidelines and shall mobilize
available resources to assure the effective implementation of this Act: Provided,
That the LTO or its successor tasked with the implementation of this Act may
require the use of special car seats for infants, if it is deemed necessary.
SEC. 12. Penalties and Fines. - In the enforcement of this Act, the LTO shall
impose fines against drivers, operators, owners of vehicles, manufacturers,
assemblers, importers and/or distributors for violation of this Act.
The following shall be the basis in defining fine and penalty provisions of the
IRR to be promulgated pursuant to Section 11 hereof, provided that six (6)
months grace period shall be allowed to lapse to conduct a nationwide
information campaign:
(1) On the driver
 (a) For failure to wear the prescribed seat belt devices and/or failure to
require his passengers to wear the prescribed seat belt device, a minimum fine
of One hundred pesos (P100) but not to exceed One thousand pesos (P1,000)
for the first violation; a minimum fine of Two hundred pesos (P200) but not to
exceed Two thousand pesos (P2,000) for the second violation; and a minimum
fine of Five hundred pesos (P500) but not to exceed Five thousand pesos
(P5,000) and suspension of driver's license for a period of one (1) week for the
third and succeeding violations;
(b) Public utility vehicles shall post appropriate signage’s instructing
front seat passengers to wear seat belts when inside the vehicle. Non-
compliance hereof will hold both the driver and the operator liable and shall be
fined a minimum of Three hundred pesos (P300) but not to exceed Three
thousand pesos (P3,000) for every violation; and
(2) On any manufacturer, assembler, importer and distributor for every unit
found without seat belt devices installed prior to its distribution to the public, a
minimum fine of Five thousand pesos (P5,000) but not to exceed Ten thousand
pesos (P10,000) and suspension of the license to manufacture, assemble,
import or distribute for a period of one (1) year for the first violation; a
minimum fine of Ten thousand pesos (P10,000) but not to exceed Twenty
thousand pesos (P20,000) and suspension of the license to manufacture,
assemble, import or distribute for a period of two (2) years for the second
violation; and a fine of Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000) but not to exceed Fifty
thousand pesos (P50,000) and suspension of the license to manufacture,
assemble, import or distribute for a period of five (5) years for the third
violation.
SEC. 13. Nationwide Public Information Campaign.
(a) The LTO, in coordination with the Philippine Information Agency
(PIA), the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) and private
agencies and organizations, shall undertake a regular nationwide Information,
Education and Communication (IEC)campaign for the attainment of the
objectives of this Act. The campaign shall stress the safety and health value of
seat belts to support the most effective enforcement of this Act.
(b) The LTO, in coordination with the local government units, shall
likewise utilize the services of citizen groups and community organizations for
the promotion of public safety awareness in observance of this Act.
(c) The fines that will be collected for the enforcement of this Act shall be
used exclusively for the implementation of the provisions of this Act, including
the necessary promotion campaigns for the use of seat belt devices.
SEC. 14. Separability Clause. - If any provision, or part hereof, is held
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or provision not otherwise
affected shall remain valid and subsisting.
SEC. 15. Repealing Clause. - Section 34, Article IV of Republic Act No. 4136
is hereby amended and any law, executive order, decree, issuance, ordinance,
rule and regulation or any part thereof contrary or inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act is also hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly.
SEC. 16. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.
Approved, August 5,1999.

Republic Act No. 8794

June 27, 2000
AN ACT IMPOSING A MOTOR VEHICLE USER'S CHARGE ON OWNERS OF
ALL TYPES OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared as the policy of the

State to provide for and ensure the adequate maintenance of national and
provincial roads through sufficient funding for the purpose.
SEC. 2. Coverage. - In lieu of the registration fee under Section 8 of Republic
Act No. 4136, as amended by Batas Pambansa Bilang 74, and the Private
Motor Vehicle Tax under Executive Order No. 43, series of 1986, there is
hereby imposed on every motor vehicle, whether for hire or for private use,
including government motor vehicles as more fully provided in Section 3
hereof, a Motor Vehicle User's Charge (MVUC) which shall be collected from
and paid by the owner of the motor vehicle.
SEC. 3. Rates of the Motor Vehicle User's Charge. - (a) For private passenger
cars registered as of the date of effectivity of this Act, the MVUC to be paid
shall be the private motor vehicle tax under Executive Order No. 43, series of
1986, plus twenty-five percent (25%) for the first year, fifty percent (50%) for
the second year, seventy-five percent (75%) for the third year, and one hundred
percent (100%) for the fourth year and thereafter: Provided, however, That
private passenger cars to be registered for the first time after the effectivity of
this Act, shall be subject to the MVUC rates prescribed in Section 3(b) hereof.
(b) Except as provided under Section 3(a) hereof, for each motor vehicle under
each of the categories as herein provided, the MVUC shall be collected from
and paid by the vehicle owner at the following base rates plus twenty-five
percent (25%) in the first year from the effectivity of this Act; the said base
rates plus fifty percent (50%) in the second year from the effectivity of this Act;
the said base rates plus seventy-five percent (75%) in the third year from the
effectivity of this Act; and the said base rates plus one hundred percent (100%)
in the fourth year from the effectivity of this Act and thereafter: Provided, That
the MVUC for sports utility vehicles shall be fifteen percent (15%) higher than
the MVUC herein set for private utility vehicles: Provided, further, That
motorcycles for hire with sidecars shall not pay more than Three hundred
pesos (P300).12345

Type of Vehicle Base Rates

I. Private and Government
A. Passenger Cars
(1) GVW up to 1,600 kgs. P 800
(2) GVW more than 1,600 kgs.-2,300 kgs. 1,800
(3) GVW more than 2,300 kgs 4,000
B. Utility Vehicles
GVW up to 2,700 kgs P1,000
GVW more than 2,700 kgs.-4,500 kgs. P1,000 + P20
Per 100 kgs.
of GVW over
2,700 kgs.
C. Motorcycles
without sidecar P 120
with sidecar 150
D. Buses
GVW more than 4,500 kgs. P900 + P12
Per
100
kgs. Of GVW over
2,700 kgs.
E. Trucks
GVW more than 4,500 kgs. P900 + P12 Per
100 kgs.
Of GVW over
2,700 kgs.
F. Trailers P12 per 100 kgs.
Of GVW
II. For Hire
A. Passenger Cars
(1) GVW up to 1,600 kgs. P 450
(2) GVW more than 1,600 kgs. - 2,300 kgs 900
(3) GVW more than 2,300 kgs. 2,500
B. Utility Vehicles
GVW up to 4,500 kgs. P15 per 100
kgs. Of GVW
A. Motorcycles
Without sidecar P150
B. Buses
GVW more than 4,500 kgs. P15 per 100 kgs.
Of GVW
C. Trucks
GVW more than 4,500 kgs P900 + P12
Per 100 kgs
Of GVW
over 2,700 kgs.
D. Trailers
GVW more than 4,500 kgs. P12 per 100 kgs.
of GVW
After the fourth year from the effectivity of this Act, the President of the
Philippines may adjust the rates contained in Section 3 which shall be
reflective of but shall not exceed the annual rate of increase of the Consumer
Price Index (CPI). The President may adjust such rates not more than once
every five (5) years.
SEC. 4. Government Motor Vehicles. - The manner of payment of the user's
charge on government motor vehicles shall be in accordance with the
procedure that shall be promulgated by the Secretary of the Department of
Budget and Management (DBM).
SEC. 5. Reclassification and New Models of Motor Vehicles. - The Land
Transportation Office (LTO) shall submit any recommendation for any change
in the classification of motor vehicles above-listed for approval by the Secretary
of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC). All
manufacturers and/or assemblers of motor vehicles shall, not later than three
(3) months prior to the introduction of any new model of motor vehicle in the
market, submit the specifications of such new model to the LTO which shall
recommend for approval by the said secretary, the proper classification of the
new model and the rate of the MVUC under which the new model shall fall. The
LTO shall also release the proper classification of said new motor vehicle model
on or before the scheduled release of such new model to the market, but in no
case later than three (3) months after its receipt of the new motor vehicle's
specifications.
SEC. 6. Penalty for Overloading. - An amount equivalent to twenty-five
percent (25%) of the MVUC shall be imposed on trucks and trailers for loading
beyond their prescribed gross vehicle weight: Provided, that no axle load shall
exceed thirteen thousand five hundred kilograms (13,500 kgs.).
SEC. 7. Disposition of Monies Collected. - All monies collected under this Act
shall be earmarked solely and used exclusively (1) for road maintenance and
the improvement of road drainage, (2) for the installation of adequate and
efficient traffic lights and road safety devices, and (3) for air pollution control.
All such monies collected shall be deposited in four (4) special trust accounts
in the National Treasury, namely: (1) Special Road Support Fund; (2) Special
Local Road Fund; (3) Special Road Safety Fund; and (4) Special Vehicle
Pollution Control Fund. The distribution of collections under this Act shall be
as follows:
1. Eighty percent (80%) shall be allotted to and placed in the Special Road
Support Fund;
2. Five percent (5%) shall be allotted to and placed in the Special Local
Road Fund;
3. Seven and one-half percent (7.5%) shall be allotted to and placed in the
Special Road Safety Fund; and
4. Seven and one-half percent (7.5%) shall be allotted to and place in the
Special Vehicle Pollution Control Fund.
The Special Road Support Fund, the Special Local Road Fund and the Special
Road Safety Fund shall be under the DPWH, whereas the Special Vehicle
Pollution Control Fund shall be under the DOTC.
Seventy percent (70%) of the Special Road Support Fund shall be used
exclusively for the maintenance of, and the improvement of drainage of,
national primary roads. The remaining thirty percent (30%) thereof shall be
allocated and used for the maintenance, and improvement of drainage of
national secondary roads throughout the country.
The cost of installation of adequate and efficient traffic lights and road safety
devices throughout the country, where such traffic lights and safety devices are
needed, shall be taken from the Special Road Safety Fund.
The Special Local Road Fund shall be apportioned to provincial and city
governments in accordance with the vehicle population and size of the road
network under their respective jurisdictions, and shall be used exclusively for
maintenance of local roads, traffic management and road safety devices.
A Road Board to implement the prudent and efficient management and
utilization of the special funds shall be organized by the President of the
Philippines. The Road Board shall be composed of seven (7) members, with the
Secretary of the DPWH as ex officio head, and the secretaries of the
Departments of Finance, Budget and Management, and Transportation and
Communications, as ex officio members. The remaining three (3) members
shall come from transport and motorist organizations
which have been in existence and active for the last five (5) years prior to this
Act. They shall be appointed for a term of two (2) years each by the President of
the Philippines upon the recommendation of the secretaries of the DPWH and
the DOTC.
SEC. 8. Status of the Special Funds. - The four (4) special funds established
under this Act shall be distinct and separate from and in addition to any
appropriation authorized and granted yearly to the DPWH and the DOTC to
cover expenditures for the identified objects of expenditures under this Act.
Congress shall continue to appropriate an amount in the General
Appropriations Act for road maintenance of the DPWH: Provided, however, That
any savings for each year out of such appropriation shall revert to the General
Fund. Any savings from the special funds created herein shall accrue to these
respective special funds.
SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The secretaries of the
DPWH and the DOTC shall jointly within thirty (30) days from the effectivity of
this Act, promulgate the rules and regulations to implement and carry out the
intent, objectives, purposes and provisions of this Act, including such
structural and procedural improvements in the systems and agencies
concerned as may be necessary to ensure the prudent, wise, effective and
efficient utilization of the special funds established under this Act: Provided,
That the Secretary of the DPWH shall prepare the portion of the implementing
rules and regulations pertaining to the Special Road Support Fund, the Special
Local Road Fund, and the Special Road Safety Fund, and the Secretary of the
DOTC shall prepare the portion of the implementing rules and regulations
pertaining to the collection of the MVUC stated under Section 3 of this Act and
on the disposition of the monies accruing to the Special Vehicle Pollution
Control Fund.
SEC. 10. Prohibition Against the Imposition of Similar Charge on Users of
Motor Vehicles. - No other tax, fee or any other charge of similar nature, as the
Motor Vehicle User's Charge shall be imposed by any political subdivision or
unit in the country.
This provision shall apply to all motor vehicles, including tricycles, motorized
pedicabs and "trisikads."
SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. - Except as provided under Section 3 hereof, all
other provisions of Executive Order No. 43, series of 1986, and Section 8 of
Republic Act No. 4136, as amended by Batas Pambansa Bilang 74, and all
other laws, orders, issuances, circulars, rules and regulations or parts thereof,
which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.
SEC. 12. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof not affected
thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.
SEC. 13. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved, June 27, 2000.

Republic Act No. 10054

March 23, 2010
AN ACT MANDATING ALL MOTORCYCLE RIDERS TO WEAR STANDARD
PROTECTIVE MOTORCYCLE HELMETS WHILE DRIVING AND PROVIDING
PENALTIES THEREFOR

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Motorcycle Helmet
Act of 2009".
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the State
to secure and safeguard its citizenry, particularly the operators or drivers of
motorcycles and their passengers, from the ruinous and extremely injurious
effects of fatal or life threatening accidents and crashes. Towards this end, it
shall pursue a more proactive and preventive approach to secure the safety of
motorists, their passengers and pedestrians at all times through the mandatory
enforcement of the use of standard protective motorcycle helmet.
SEC. 3. Mandatory Use of Motorcycle Helmets. — All motorcycle riders,
including drivers and back riders, shall at all times wear standard protective
motorcycle helmets while driving, whether long or short drives, in any type of
road and highway.
Standard protective motorcycle helmets are appropriate types of helmets for
motorcycle riders that comply with the specifications issued by the Department
of Trade and Industry (DTI).
The DTI shall issue guidelines, which should include the specifications
regarding standard protective motorcycle helmets.
SEC. 4. Exemption. — Drivers of tricycles shall be exempted from complying
with the mandatory wearing of motorcycle helmets as provided in this Act.
SEC. 5. Provision of Motorcycle Helmets. — A new motorcycle helmet which
bears the Philippine Standard (PS) mark or Import Commodity Clearance (ICC)
of the Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) and complies with the standards set
by the BPS shall be made available by every seller and/or dealer every time a
new motorcycle unit is purchased and which the purchaser may buy at bis
option. Failure to comply with the requirements provided under this section
shall constitute a violation of this Act.
SEC. 6. Implementation. — The Department of Transportation and
Communications (DOTC), with its attached agency, the Land Transportation
Office (LTO), is mandated by this Act to issue guidelines necessary to
implement the provisions of this Act.
The DTI, through the BPS, is mandated to utilize the United Nations Economic
Commission for Europe (UNECE) Protocols with regard to the standards that
will be applicable to the approval or disapproval of motorcycle helmets that will
be sold in the Philippines.
The DTI, through the BPS, shall conduct a mandatory testing of all
manufactured and imported motorcycle helmets in the Philippines. All
manufacturers and importers of standard protective motorcycle helmets are
required to secure a PS license or ICC prior to the sale and distribution of their
products. The BPS shall issue periodically a list of motorcycle helmet
manufacturers and importers and the brands which pass the standards of the
BPS to be published in a newspaper of general circulation or in its website.
Upon the effectivity of this Act, only those standard protective motorcycle
helmets bearing the PS or ICC mark shall be sold in the market.
SEC. 7. Penalties. — (a) Any person caught not wearing the standard
protective motorcycle helmet in violation of this Act shall be punished with a
fine of One thousand five hundred pesos (Php1,500.00) for the first offense;
Three thousand pesos (Php3,000.00) for the second offense; Five thousand
pesos (Php5,000.00) for the third offense; and Ten thousand pesos
(Php10,000.00) plus confiscation of the driver's license for the fourth and
succeeding offenses.
(b) Any seller and/or dealer who violates Section 5 of this Act shall be punished
with a fine of not lees than Ten thousand pesos (Php10,000.00) but not more
than Twenty thousand pesos (Php20,000.00).
(c) Any person who uses, sells and distributes substandard motorcycle helmets
or those which do not bear the PS mark or the ICC certificate shall be punished
with a fine of not less than Three thousand pesos (Php3,000.00) for the first
offense; and Five thousand pesos (Php5,000.00) for the second offense, without
prejudice to other penalties imposed in Republic Act No. 7394 or the
"Consumer Act of the Philippines".
(d) Tampering, alteration, forgery and imitation of the PS mark and the ICC
certificates in the helmets shall be punished with a fine of not less than Ten
thousand pesos (Php10,000.00) but not more than Twenty thousand pesos
(Php20,000.00), without prejudice to other penalties imposed in Republic Act
No. 7394 or the "Consumer Act of the Philippines".
SEC. 8. Nationwide Public Information Campaign. — The LTO, in
coordination with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), the Department of
Education (DepED) and private agencies and organizations, shall undertake a
nationwide information, education and communication (IEC) campaign for a
period of six (6) months for the attainment of the objective s of this Act.
SEC. 9. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part hereof is held invalid
or unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or the provisions not otherwise
affected shall remain valid and subsisting.
SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations
or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.
SEC. 11. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Republic Act No. 10586

May 27, 2013
AN ACT PENALIZING PERSONS DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF
ALCOHOL, DANGEROUS DRUGS, AND SIMILAR SUBSTANCES, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES

SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Anti-Drunk and
Drugged Driving Act of 2013?
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – Pursuant to the Constitutional principle that
recognizes the protection of life and property and the promotion of the general
welfare as essential for the enjoyment of the blessing of democracy, it is hereby
declared the policy of the State to ensure road safety through the observance of
the citizenry of responsible and ethical driving standards.
Towards this end, the State shall penalize the acts of driving under the
influence of alcohol, dangerous drugs and other intoxicating substances and
shall inculcate the standards of safe driving and the benefits that may be
derived from it through institutional programs and appropriate public
information strategies.
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. – For purposes of this Act:
(a) Alcohol refers to alcoholic beverages classified into beer, wine and distilled
spirits, the consumption of which produces intoxication.
(b) Breath analyzer refers to the equipment which can determine the blood
alcohol concentration level of a person through testing of his breath.
(c) Chemical tests refer to breath, saliva, urine or blood tests to determine the
blood alcohol concentration level and/or positive indication of dangerous drugs
and similar substances in a person’s body.
(d) Dangerous drugs and other similar substances refer to drugs listed in the
schedules annexed to the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotics Drugs, as
amended by the 1972 Protocol, and in the schedules annexed to the 1971
Single Convention of Psychotropic Substances as enumerated in its attachment
which is an integral part of Republic Act No. 9165, otherwise known as the
“Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002? and those that the Board may
reclassify, add to or remove from the list of dangerous drugs.
(e) Driving under the influence of alcohol refers to the act of operating a motor
vehicle while the driver’s blood alcohol concentration level has, after being
subjected to a breath analyzer test, reached the level of intoxication, as
established jointly by the Department of Health (DOH), the National Police
Commission (NAPOLCOM) and the Department of Transportation and
Communications (DOTC).
(f) Driving under the influence of dangerous drugs and other similar
substances refers to the act of operating a motor vehicle while the driver, after
being subjected to a confirmatory test as mandated under Republic Act No.
9165, is found to be positive for use of any dangerous drug.
(g) Field sobriety tests refer to standardized tests to initially assess and
determine intoxication, such as the horizontal gaze nystagmus, the walk-and-
turn, the one-leg stand, and other similar tests as determined jointly by the
DOH, the NAPOLCOM and the DOTC.
(h) Motor vehicle refers to any land transportation vehicle propelled by any
power other than muscular power.
(i) Motor vehicles designed to carry hazardous materials refer to those designed
to carry or transport materials which may endanger health and lives of the
public.
(j) Public utility vehicles refer to motor vehicles for hire and used to carry or
transport passengers or goods.
SEC. 4. Driver’s Education. – Every applicant for a motor vehicle driver’s
license shall complete a course of instruction that provides information on safe
driving including, but not limited to, the effects of the consumption of alcoholic
beverages on the ability of a person to operate a motor vehicle, the hazards of
driving under the influence of alcohol, dangerous drugs and/or other similar
substances, and the penalties attached for violation thereof.
For professional drivers, every applicant for a driver’s license or those applying
for renewal thereof shall undergo the driver’s education herein stated.
The driver’s license written examination shall include questions concerning the
effects of alcohol and drug intoxication on the ability of a person to operate a
motor vehicle and the legal and pecuniary consequences resulting from
violation of the provisions of this Act.
SEC. 5. Punishable Act. – It shall be unlawful for any person to drive a motor
vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, dangerous drugs and/or other
similar substances.
SEC. 6. Conduct of Field Sobriety, Chemical and Confirmatory Tests. – A law
enforcement officer who has probable cause to believe that a person is driving
under the influence of alcohol, dangerous drugs and/or other similar
substances by apparent indications and manifestations, including over
speeding, weaving, lane straddling, sudden stops, swerving, poor coordination
or the evident smell of alcohol in a person’s breath or signs of use of dangerous
drugs and other similar substances, shall conduct field sobriety tests.
If the driver fails in the sobriety tests, it shall be the duty of the law
enforcement officer to implement the mandatory determination of the driver’s
blood alcohol concentration level through the use of a breath analyzer or
similar measuring instrument.
If the law enforcement officer has probable cause to believe that a person is
driving under the influence of dangerous drugs and/or other similar
substances, it shall be the duty of the law enforcement officer to bring the
driver to the nearest police station to be subjected to a drug screening test and,
if necessary, a drug confirmatory test as mandated under Republic Act No.
9165.
Law enforcement officers and deputized local traffic enforcement officers shall
be responsible in implementing this section.
SEC. 7. Mandatory Alcohol and Chemical Testing of Drivers Involved in Motor
Vehicular Accidents. – A driver of a motor vehicle involved in a vehicular
accident resulting in the loss of human life or physical injuries shall be
subjected to chemical tests, including a drug screening test and, if necessary, a
drug confirmatory test as mandated under Republic Act No. 9165, to determine
the presence and/or concentration of alcohol, dangerous drugs and/or similar
substances in the bloodstream or body.
SEC. 8. Refusal to Subject Oneself to Mandatory Tests. – A driver of a
motor vehicle who refuses to undergo the mandatory field sobriety and drug
tests under Sections 6, 7 and 15 of this Act shall be penalized by the
confiscation and automatic revocation of his or her driver’s license, in addition
to other penalties provided herein and/or other pertinent laws.
SEC. 9. Acquisition of Equipment. – Within four (4) months from the
effectivity of this Act, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Philippine
National Police (PNP) shall acquire sufficient breath analyzers and drug-testing
kits to be utilized by law enforcement officers and deputized local traffic
enforcement officers nationwide giving priority to areas with high reported
occurrences of accidents. For purposes of acquiring this equipment and for the
training seminars indicated in Section 10 hereof, the LTO shall utilize the
Special Road Safety Fund allotted for this purpose as provided under Section 7
of Republic Act No. 8794, entitled: “An Act Imposing a Motor Vehicle User’s
Charge on Owners of All Types of Motor Vehicles and for Other Purposes”.
Additional yearly appropriations for the purchase of breath analyzers and drug-
testing kits shall be provided annually under the General Appropriations Act.
SEC. 10. Deputation. – The LTO may deputize traffic enforcement officers of
the PNP, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and cities
and municipalities in order to enforce the provisions of this Act.
SEC. 11. Law Enforcement Officer Education. – The LTO and the PNP shall
conduct training seminars for their law enforcers and deputies with regard to
the proper conduct of field sobriety tests and breath analyzer tests every year.
Within four (4) months from the effectivity of this Act, the LTO shall publish the
guidelines and procedures for the proper conduct of field sobriety tests, which
guidelines shall be made available to the public and made available for
download through the official LTO website.
SEC. 12. Penalties. – A driver found to have been driving a motor vehicle
while under the influence of alcohol, dangerous drugs and/or other similar
substances, as provided for under Section 5 of this Act, shall be penalized as
follows:
(a) If the violation of Section 5 did not result in physical injuries or homicide,
the penalty of three (3) months imprisonment, and a fine ranging from Twenty
thousand pesos (Php20,000.00) to Eighty thousand pesos (Php80,000.00) shall
be imposed;
(b) If the violation of Section 5 resulted in physical injuries, the penalty
provided in Article 263 of the Revised Penal Code or the penalty provided in the
next preceding subparagraph, whichever is higher, and a fine ranging from One
hundred thousand pesos (Php100,000.00) to Two hundred thousand pesos
(Php200,000.00) shall be imposed;
(c) If the violation of Section 5 resulted in homicide, the penalty provided in
Article 249 of the Revised Penal Code and a fine ranging from Three hundred
thousand pesos (Php300,000.00) to Five hundred thousand pesos
(Php500,000.00) shall be imposed; and
(d) The nonprofessional driver’s license of any person found to have violated
Section 5 of this Act shall also be confiscated and suspended for a period of
twelve (12) months for the first conviction and perpetually revoked for the
second conviction. The professional driver’s license of any person found to have
violated Section 5 of this Act shall also be confiscated and perpetually revoked
for the first conviction. The perpetual revocation of a driver’s license shall
disqualify the person from being granted any kind of driver’s license thereafter.
The prosecution for any violation of this Act shall be without prejudice to
criminal prosecution for violation of the Revised Penal Code, Republic Act No.
9165 and other special laws and existing local ordinances, whenever
applicable.
SEC. 13. Direct Liability of Operator and/or Owner of the Offending Vehicle. –
The owner and/or operator of the vehicle driven by the offender shall be
directly and principally held liable together with the offender for the fine and
the award against the offender for civil damages unless he or she is able to
convincingly prove that he or she has exercised extraordinary diligence in the
selection and supervision of his or her drivers in general and the offending
driver in particular.
This section shall principally apply to the owners and/or operators of public
utility vehicles and commercial vehicles such as delivery vans, cargo trucks,
container trucks, school and company buses, hotel transports, cars or vans for
rent, taxi cabs, and the like.
SEC. 14. Nationwide Information Campaign. – Within one (1) month from
the promulgation of the implementing rules and regulations as provided under
Section 17 hereof, the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), in coordination with
the LTO, the local government units (LGUs) and other concerned agencies,
shall conduct information, education and communication (IEC) campaign for
the attainment of the objectives of this Act.
SEC. 15. Nationwide Random Terminal Inspection and Quick Random Drug
Tests. – The LTO shall conduct random terminal inspections and quick random
drug tests of public utility drivers. The cost of such tests shall be defrayed by
the LTO.
SEC. 16. Review of Penalties. – The LTO shall, after five (5) years from the
effectivity of this Act and every five (5) years thereafter, review the applicability
and enforcement of all foregoing pecuniary penalties and shall initiate
amendment and/or upgrade the same as may be necessary, subject to the
approval of the Secretary of the DOTC.
SEC. 17. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The DOTC, the DOH and
the NAPOLCOM shall, within three (3) months from the effectivity of this Act,
jointly promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations to carry
out the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 18. Separability Clause. – If, for any reason, any part or provision of
this Act is declared invalid, such declaration shall not affect the other
provisions of this Act.
SEC. 19. Repealing Clause. – Subparagraph (f), Section 56, Article 1 of
Republic Act No. 4136, otherwise known as the “Land Transportation and
Traffic Code”, as amended; subparagraph (f), Section 5 of Republic Act No.
7924, otherwise known as “An Act Creating the Metropolitan Manila
Development Authority, Defining its Powers and Functions, Providing Funds
Therefor and for Other Purposes;” subparagraph (a), Section 36 of Republic Act
No. 9165; and all other laws, orders, issuances, circulars, rules and
regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with any provision of this
Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 20. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days from its
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general
circulation.

Republic Act No. 10666

July 21, 2015
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE SAFETY OF CHILDREN ABOARD MOTORCYLES
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as “Children’s Safety on
Motorcycles Act of 2015”.
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to defend the right
of children to assistance, including proper care and nutrition, and special
protection from all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation, and other
conditions prejudicial to their development.
Towards this end, the State shall pursue a more proactive and preventive
approach to secure the safety of passengers, especially children, by regulating
the operation of motorcycles along roads and highways.
SEC. 3. Definitions. – For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall
mean:
(a) Motorcycle refers to any two (2)-wheeled motor vehicle having one (1) or two
(2) riding saddles;
(b) Public roads refer to roads designed by the national government or local
government units as roads for public use such as, but not limited to, national
highways, provincial roads, city, municipal and barangay streets;
(c) Foot peg refers to a flat form attached to the motorcycles on which to stand
or brace the feet; and
(d) Rider refers to the driver of a motorcycle.
SEC. 4. Prohibition. – It shall be unlawful for any person to drive a two (2)-
wheeled motorcycle with a child on board on public roads where there is heavy
volume of vehicles, there is a high density of fast moving vehicles or where a
speed limit of more than 60/kph is imposed, unless:
(a) The child passenger can comfortably reach his/her feet on the standard foot
peg of the motorcycle;
(b) The child’s arms can reach around and grasp the waist of the motorcycle
rider; and
(c) The child is wearing a standard protective helmet referred to under Republic
Act No. 10054, otherwise known the “Motorcycle Helmet Act of 2009.”
SEC. 5. Exception. – Notwithstanding the prohibition provided in the
preceding section, this Act shall not apply to cases where the child to be
transported requires immediate medical attention.
SEC. 6. Penalties. – Any person who operates a motorcycle in violation of
Section 4 of this Act shall be fined with an amount of three thousand pesos
(P3,000.00) for the first offense; five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) for the second
offense; and ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) for the third and succeeding
offenses.
Moreover, for the third offense, the driver’s license of the offender shall be
suspended for a period of one (1) month.
Violation of these provisions beyond the third time shall result to automatic
revocation of the offender’s driver’s license.
SEC. 7. Review of Penalties. – The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is hereby
empowered to increase or adjust the amounts of fines herein imposed:
Provided, That:
(a) The increase or adjustment is made after public consultation once every
three (3) years from the effectivity of this Act and in the amount not exceeding
twenty percent (20%) of the amounts sought to be increased or adjusted;
(b) A thorough study has been conducted indicating that the existing amounts
are no longer an effective deterrent;
(c) Current relevant economic indices, such as the Consumer Price Index (CPI),
have been considered in the determination of the increase or adjustment; and
(d) The increases or adjustment shall only become effective fifteen (15) days
after its publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
SEC. 8. Qualifying Circumstances. – If, in violation of the provisions of this
Act, death shall have resulted or serious or less serious injuries shall have
been inflicted upon the child or any other person, a penalty of one (1) year
imprisonment shall be imposed upon the motorcycle rider or operator of the
motorcycle involved without prejudice to the penalties provided under Act No.
3815, otherwise known as “The Revised Penal Code of the Philippines”, as
amended.
SEC. 9. Authority to Deputize Traffic Enforcers and Local Government Units
(LGUs). — To effectively implement the provisions of this Act, the LTO is hereby
given the authority to deputize members of the Philippine National Police (PNP),
the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the LGUs to carry
out enforcement functions and duties.
SEC. 10. Public Information Campaign. – Not later than thirty (30) days
following the promulgation of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of
this Act, the LTO, in coordination with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA),
the Department of Education (DepED) and concerned private organizations and
agencies, shall undertake a nationwide information and education campaign
for a period of three (3) months on the important provisions of this Act and its
IRR.
Thereafter, the aforementioned agencies shall include the essential provisions
of this Act in their respective annual communications programs.
SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – As the lead agency, the
LTO shall formulate the IRR of this Act within ninety (90) days after its
effectivity.
SEC. 12. Separability Clause. – If for any reason any section or provision of
this Act is declared unconstitutional, other provisions hereof which are not
affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.
SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, or rules and regulations
which are inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are hereby
amended or repealed.
SEC. 14. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general
circulation.
 Republic Act No. 10913
July 21, 2016
AN ACT DEFINING AND PENALIZING DISTRACTED DRIVING

SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Anti-Distracted

Driving Act”.
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
safeguard its citizenry from the ruinous and extremely injurious effects of
vehicular accidents.
While the State recognizes the vital roles of information and communications
technology in nation-building, the State also takes cognizance of the inimical
consequences of the unrestrained use of electronic mobile devices on road
safety as to cause its regulation.
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act:
(a) Diplomatic motor vehicle – any motor vehicle leased or owned by a foreign
mission and its staff for their official use;
(b) Electronic entertainment and computing device – any handheld electronic
device capable of digital information processing, recording, capturing or
displaying and computing operations such as, but not limited to, laptop,
computers, tablets, video game consoles and calculators;
(c) Government motor vehicle – any motor vehicle owned by the national
government or any of its agencies, instrumentalities or political subdivisions,
including government-owned or -controlled corporations or their subsidiaries
for official use;
(d) Implementing agency – the Department of Transportation and
Communications-Land Transportation Office (DOTC-LTO);
(e) Mobile communications devices – electronic communications equipment
such as, but not limited to, cellular phones, wireless telephones, two-way radio
transceivers, pagers and other similar devices capable of transmitting,
receiving, or both, of encrypted data and/or signals through wireless electronic
or any other similar means;
(f) Motor vehicle – engine-driven vehicles such as, but not limited to,
automobiles, trucks, vans, buses, jeeps, motorcycles and tricycles;
(g) Motorist – a person driving a motor vehicle;
(h) Private motor vehicle – any motor vehicle owned by individuals and juridical
persons for private use; and
(i) Public motor vehicle – a motor vehicle with a valid franchise issued by the
appropriate government agency to operate as a public utility vehicle or any
vehicle for hire.
SEC. 4. Distracted Driving. – Subject to the qualifications in Sections 5 and 6
of this Act, distracted driving refers to the performance by a motorist of any of
the following acts in a motor vehicle in motion or temporarily stopped at a red
light, whether diplomatic, public or private, which are hereby declared
unlawful;
(a) Using a mobile communications device to write, send, or read a text-based
communication or to make or receive calls, and other similar acts; and
(b) Using an electronic entertainment or computing device to play games, watch
movies, surf the internet, compose messages, read e-books, perform
calculations, and other similar acts.
SEC. 5. Extent of Coverage. – (a) The operation of a mobile communications
device is not considered to be distracted driving if done using the aid of a
hands-free function or similar device such as, but not limited to, a speaker
phone, earphones and microphones or other similar devices which allow a
person to make and receive calls without having to hold the mobile
communications device: Provided, That the placement of the mobile
communications device or the hands-free device does not interfere with the line
of sight of the driver.
(b) Wheeled agricultural machineries such as tractors and construction
equipment such as graders, rollers, backhoes, pay loaders, cranes, bulldozers,
mobile concrete mixers and the like, and other forms of conveyances such as
bicycles, pedicabs, habal-habal , trolleys, “kuligligs”, wagons, carriages, carts,
sledges, chariots or the like, whether animal or human-powered, are covered by
the provisions of this Act as long as the same are operated or driven in public
thorough fares, highways or streets or under circumstances where public
safety is under consideration.
(c) The provisions of this Act shall not apply to motorists of motor vehicles
which are not in motion, except those which are stopped momentarily at a red
light, or are pulled over to the side of the road in compliance with a traffic
regulation.
SEC. 6. Exemptions. – The provisions of this Act shall not apply to the
following:
(a) A motorist using a mobile phone for emergency purposes, including, but not
limited to, an emergency call to a law enforcement agency, health care
provider, fire department, or other emergency services, agency or entity; and
(b) A motorist using a mobile phone while operating an emergency vehicle such
as an ambulance, a fire truck, and other vehicles providing emergency
assistance, in the course and scope of his or her duties.
SEC. 7. Nationwide Public Information Campaign. – The DOTC-LTO, in
coordination with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), the Department of
Education (DepEd), the Department of the Interior and Local Government
(DILG), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and private agencies and
organizations shall undertake a nationwide information, education and
communication (IEC) campaign for a period of six (6) months from the
effectivity of this Act.
SEC. 8. Penalties. – Any person who shall violate any provision of this Act
shall be penalized with:
(a) A fine of five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) for the first offense;
(b) A fine of ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) for the second offense;

(c) A fine of fifteen thousand pesos (P15,000.00) and suspension of driver’s

license for three (3) months for the third offense; and
(d) A fine of twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00) and revocation of driver’s
license: Provided, That the implementing agency may increase the amount of
fine herein imposed once every five (5) years in the amount not exceeding ten
percent (10%) of the existing rates sought to be increased which shall take
effect only upon publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation: Provided, further, That a driver of a public utility vehicle, a school
bus, a school service vehicle, a common carrier hauling volatile, flammable or
toxic material, or a driver who commits an act classified herein as distracted
driving within a fifty (50)-meter radius from the school premises shall be
subject to a penalty of thirty thousand pesos (P30,000.00) and suspension of
one’s driver’s license for three (3) months.
The foregoing penalties shall be imposed without prejudice to other liabilities
under the Revised Penal Code or any special law, arising out or on occasion of
the herein prohibited acts.
SEC. 9. Liability of Owner and/or Operator of the Vehicle Driven by the
Offender. – The owner and/or operator of the vehicle driven by the offender
shall be directly and principally held liable together with the offender for the
fine unless he or she is able to convincingly prove that he or she has exercised
extraordinary diligence in the selection and supervision of his or her drivers in
general and the offending driver in particular.
This section shall principally apply to the owners and/or operators of public
utility vehicles and commercial vehicles such as delivery vans, cargo trucks,
container trucks, school and company buses, hotel transports, cars or vans for
rent, taxi cabs, and the like.
SEC. 10. Enforcement and Assistance by Other Agencies. – The Metro
Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the PNP and other concerned
government agencies and instrumentalities shall be responsible for the
enforcement of the foregoing provisions and shall render such assistance as
may be required by the DOTC-LTO in order to effectively implement the
provisions of this Act.
SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The DOTC-LTO shall
promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations within sixty (60)
days from the effectivity of this Act.
SEC. 12. Repealing Clause. – Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation
contrary to, or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed,
modified or amended accordingly.
SEC. 13. Separability Clause. – If, for any reason, any part or provision of
this Act is declared invalid, such declaration shall not affect the other
provisions of this Act.
SEC. 14. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
 Republic Act No. 10916
July 21, 2016
AN ACT REQUIRING THE MANDATORY INSTALLATION OF SPEED LIMITER IN
PUBLIC UTILITY AND CERTAIN TYPES OF VEHICLES

SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Road Speed Limiter
Act of 2016”.
SEC. 2. Declaration, of Policy. – It is hereby declared the policy of the State
to maintain at all times the safety and protection of the public. Towards this
end, it shall pursue a more proactive and preventive approach to secure the
safety of passengers and public in general on roads and highways. It shall
implement measures to safeguard them from any speed-related road accidents
which are not only causing fatalities but also damage to properties.
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act:
(a) Closed van refers to a large motor vehicle, usually with an enclosed cargo
space, designed to carry goods for commercial purposes, or engaged in services
of transporting personal effects;
(b) Covered vehicle refers to any closed van, hauler or cargo trailer, PUV,
shuttle service, or tanker truck as defined under this section and such other
vehicles as may hereinafter be determined and included by the Department of
Transportation and Communications (DOTC) for the purpose of applying the
provisions of this Act; excluding taxicabs, and public utility jeepneys (PUJs),
without prejudice to the review by the DOTC after one (1) year on the necessity
of their inclusion in the coverage of this Act;
(c) Hauler or Cargo trailer refers to a motor vehicle designed for transporting
heavy or oversized loads or cargoes;
(d) Public utility vehicle (PUV) refers to a motor vehicle considered as a public
transport conveyance or common carrier duly registered with the Land
Transportation Office (LTO) and granted a franchise by the Land
Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB);
(e) Shuttle service refers to any motor vehicle provided by government or
private company or establishment to transport its employees to and from the
work premises or clients between designated origin and destination and
carrying not less than four (4) passengers;
(f) Speed limiter refers to a device used to limit the top speed of a vehicle
through the employment of mechanical, electronic or communications system
or the combination of these systems or similar devices capable of performing
the same function;
(g) Tampering refers to an act of recalibrating, reprogramming, resetting or
reconfiguring a speed limiter installed in any covered vehicle and already
sealed by the LTO or LTFRB after due inspection in such a way as to
circumvent its functions or the purposes for which it is intended. The act of
calibrating, reprogramming, resetting or reconfiguring a speed limiter installed
in any covered vehicle without the supervision of the LTO or LTFRB as required
under Section 5 of this Act shall be considered tampering: and
(h) Tanker truck refers to a motor vehicle designed for transporting or carrying
gas, oil or liquid, flammable, combustible, corrosive or hazardous materials or
substances in bulk.
SEC. 4. Mandatory Installation of Speed Limiter. – No covered vehicle,
following the effectivity of this Act, shall be allowed to run in any road, street or
highway in the Philippines without a standard speed limiter in accordance with
the standards and specifications approved by the DOTC: Provided, that in case
of vehicles which are already registered with any appropriate agency, this
requirement shall be complied with not later than eighteen (18) months from
the effectivity of this Act.
SEC. 5. No Speed Limiter, No Registration. – No covered vehicle shall be
registered by the LTO or given a franchise by the LTFRB without the standard
speed limiter installed and set in the vehicle in compliance with Section 4 and
Section 6 hereof.
SEC. 6. Setting of Standard. –The DOTC shall, in accordance with
acceptable international standards, determine the specifications of the speed
limiters that may be allowed to be installed in the covered vehicles. The LTO or
the LTFRB, shall supervise and inspect the setting of speed limiter
corresponding to the maximum allowed in the route plied by a particular
covered vehicle.
SEC. 7. Accreditation. – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) shall
accredit persons, establishments or institutions producing, manufacturing or
distributing speed limiters in accordance with the specifications and standards
as may be determined by the DOTC. For this purpose, the DTI shall issue the
necessary certification attesting compliance with such specifications and
standards as a prerequisite for registration.
SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The DOTC, in coordination
with the LTO, LTFRB, DTI and the Department of Science and Technology, and
in consultation with private stakeholders, shall formulate and promulgate the
necessary implementing rules and regulations of this Act within sixty (60) days
upon the effectivity of this Act.
SEC. 9. Fines/Penalties.
(a) The driver who operates a motor vehicle covered by this Act or the owner or
operator who allows such driver to operate without the speed limiter herein
required shall suffer a fine in the amount of fifty thousand pesos (P50.000.00).
(b) The same fine shall be imposed upon the driver, owner or operator who
operates or allows a person to operate a motor vehicle with a nonfunctioning or
tampered speed limiter.
In addition to the above fines, a suspension of the driver’s license for a period
of one (1) month or franchise of a motor vehicle for a period of three (3) months,
as the case may be, shall be imposed upon the offender who commits the
abovementioned violations for the first time.
For the commission of any of the foregoing prohibited acts for the second time,
the driver’s license of the offender shall be suspended for a period of three (3)
months or the franchise of a motor vehicle shall be suspended for a period of
six (6) months, as the case may be, in addition to the fines herein imposed.

For the subsequent commission of any of the foregoing prohibited acts, the
driver’s license of the offender shall be revoked or the franchise of a motor
vehicle shall be suspended for a period of one (1) year, as the case may be, in
addition to the fines herein imposed.
(c) Any person who is found guilty of tampering as defined in this Act shall
suffer a penalty of imprisonment of not less than six (6) months but not more
than three (3) years and a fine of thirty thousand pesos (P30,000.00).
The provision of this section shall be applied without prejudice to criminal
prosecution or civil action under existing applicable laws.
SEC. 10. Appropriations. -The initial amount necessary to implement the
provisions of this Act shall be charged against the current year’s appropriation
of the DOTC. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued
implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act.
SEC. 11. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in
full force and effect.
SEC. 12. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, executive orders or parts
thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed,
amended or modified accordingly.
SEC. 13. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a national newspaper of
general circulation.
 Republic Act No. 10930
August 2, 2017
AN ACT RATIONALIZING AND STRENGTHENING THE POLICY REGARDING
DRIVER'S LICENCES, AND PENALIZING ACTS IN VIOLATION OF ITS
ISSUANCE AND APPLICATION, AMENDING FOR THOSE PURPOSES SECTION
23 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 4136, AS AMENDED BY BATAS PAMBANSA BLG.
398 AND EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 1011, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LAND
TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC CODE

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. - It shall be the policy of the State to

establish a system that promotes the ease of access to government services and
efficient transportation regulation favorable to the people.
SEC. 2. Section 23 of Republic Act No. 4136, otherwise known as the "Land
Transportation and Traffic Code", as amended, is hereby further amended to
read as follows:
"SEC. 23.Issuance of Driver's License, Fees and Validity.- If, after such
examination, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) Head or his/her deputies
find that the applicant possesses the necessary qualification and proficiency in
the operation of motor vehicles, is able to read and write any of the official
languages or a major dialect and knows how to read and interpret various
traffic signs, signals and road markings, a professional or nonprofessional
license may be issued to such applicant upon payment of the fee prescribed in
accordance with law, and which shall not cost more than the government’s
procurement expense, but prior to the issuance of said license, the applicant
shall present himself/ herself in person and have his/her photograph taken by
the LTO. All driver's licenses issued shall be signed in the presence of the LTO
Head or his/her deputies and shall bear, among others, the full name, date of
birth, height, weight, sex, color of eyes, blood type, complete current address,
biometrics, license number, and its date of issue and expiration.
"In this issuance of licenses, the LTO shall now use such process or adopt such
measures as will prevent any alteration or falsification of a license or will
enable the LTO to detect any unauthorized license. The LTO shall create an
online process for the renewal of professional and nonprofessional licenses
within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act.
"Except for student permits, all drivers' licenses shall be valid for five (5) years
reckoned from the birthdate of the licensee, unless sooner revoked or
suspended: Provided, however, That subject to Section 26 hereof, any holder of
a professional or nonprofessional driver's license who has not committed any
violation of Republic Act No. 4136 and other traffic laws, rules and regulations
during the five (5)-year period shall be entitled to a renewal of such license for
ten (10) years, subject to the restrictions as may be imposed by the LTO.
"The local government units (LGUs), the Metropolitan Manila Development
Authority (MMDA) or other agencies lawfully issuing traffic violation receipts
shall report within a reasonable time, to be determined in the implementing
rules and regulations (IRR), the details of the traffic violation to the LTO, which
shall serve as the repository of all traffic violation records."
SEC. 3. A new section is hereby added after Section 23 of the same Act and
numbered as Section 23-A, to read as follows:
"SEC. 23-A. Establishment of Stricter Rules Before the Issuance of
Driver's License. - The LTO shall promulgate prerequisites and guidelines
before the grant of driver's licenses to ensure that these are issued only to
deserving applicants with sufficient driving skills and knowledge on road safety
and proper road courtesy.
"Toward this end, the conduct of theoretical and practical examinations, among
others, must sufficiently measure the competency of drivers and must be
designed to the type of license applied for and its corresponding restrictions:
Provided, that for professional drivers, the tests must be appropriate to the
vehicle and type of service the applicant intends to operate."
SEC. 4. A new section is hereby added after Section 23-A of the same Act and
numbered as 23-B, to read as follows:
"SEC. 23-B. Penalties. - Without prejudice to the penalties provided
under the Revised Penal Code and other applicable laws, the penalties
corresponding to the following acts shall be imposed by the appropriate agency
or officer:
"(a) Any officer who, in any manner, issues a driver's license without the
necessary examinations, connives with the applicant for the irregular issuance
of a license, or who, by gross negligence, issues a driver's license to an
unqualified applicant shall suffer a penalty of removal from the service with all
the accessory penalties attached thereto;
"(b) A fine in the amount of Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00) shall be
imposed upon an applicant for a driver's license found to have committed any
of the following acts:
"(1) Willfull misrepresentation with respect to material information in
one's application;
"(2) Connivance with the officer in the irregular conduct of examinations
or issuance of license;
"(3) Falsification of documents; or
"(4) Cheating during examinations.
"Any or all of the acts abovementioned shall be punished whether or not a
license was granted by reason of such misrepresentation, connivance,
falsification or cheating.
"In addition to the abovementioned fine, the driver's license of an erring
applicant, if one is granted by reason of such misrepresentation, connivance,
falsification or cheating, shall be revoked, and the applicant shall be prohibited
from applying for a period of two (2) years. The repetition os such offense shall
warrant the perpetual disqualification from being granted a driver's license in
addition to the fine above-stated; and
"(c) A holder of a driver's license who acts in violation of the provisions of
Republic Act No. 4136 and other existing traffic laws shall suffer corresponding
penalties as may be provided by law and other issuances.
"In case of death or physical injuries resulting in the loss of any part of the
victim's body or the use thereof, insanity, imbecility, impotence or blindness, or
incapacity to work for more than ninety (90) days, the license of the offending
driver shall be revoked for a period of four (4) years, after a finding by the court
that such driver was negligent or at fault.
"The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the LTO shall, in coordination
with the Land Transportation Franchising and regulatory Board (LTFRB) and
other concerned agencies and private stakeholders, aggressively and regularly
conduct a nationwide information, education and communication (IEC)
campaign on road safety, including the list of measures implemented pursuant
to and violations punishable under this Act."
SEC. 5. Review of Penalties. - The secretary of the DOTr. upon the
recommendation of the LTO, after due hearing and publication, shall have the
power to increase or adjust the fine herein imposed once every five (5) years:
Provided, that in no case shall the increase be more than five percent (5%) of
the fine sought to be increased.
SEC. 6. Research and Development. - The LTO shall conduct continuing
research and development to ensure the efficient administration of the driver's
licensing system.
SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from
the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the DOTr, with the assistance of the
LTO, the LTFRB, and the MMDA, shall promulgate the implementing rules and
regulations necessary to ensure the effective implementation of this Act.
SEC.8. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or provisions not otherwise affected
shall remain valid and subsisting.
SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, letters of
instruction, rules and regulations, issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with
this Act are hereby revoked, repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
SEC. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.