Mandatory Age Limit for School Transport Service
LTFRB Memorandum Circular No. 006-13, issued on October 1, 2013, re-establishes a mandatory age limit of fifteen years for vehicles used as School Transport Service in the Philippines, emphasizing the safety of school children. While new applications for Certificates of Public Convenience (CPC) must be for brand new units starting January 1, 2014, the circular allows existing operators to continue using units older than fifteen years in 2014 if their CPC remains valid. However, from January 1, 2015, the age limit will be strictly enforced, prohibiting confirmation of any units exceeding the age limit, regardless of CPC validity. This policy aims to enhance safety standards in school transport services.
October 1, 2013
LTFRB MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 006-13
SUBJECT : Mandatory Age Limit for School Transport Service
In Memorandum Circular No. 2004-012, dated May 27, 2004, the Board has already set the age limit for units authorized as School Transport service at fifteen (15) years. While said policy was subsequently amended in 2007 with the requirement for Roadworthiness Certificate in lieu of the mandatory age limit, the Board, pursuant to the modernization program of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and considering the fact that passengers under this category are school children and their safety cannot be compromised, the mandatory age limit for School Transport Service is hereby re-imposed.
Thus, taking into consideration the duty of operators to provide safe, adequate, and convenient service to the public, the Board hereby sets the following guidelines for School Transport Service pursuant to its powers as provided under Section 5 of Executive Order No. 202:
1. Mandatory Age Limit: All units used as School Transport Service (SB) shall have the maximum age limit of fifteen (15) years regardless of vehicle type. No units shall be allowed to be confirmed if age is more than fifteen (15) years even if the Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) is still valid.
2. New Applications for CPC: Only brand new units shall be allowed as authorized unit in new applications for CPC starting January 1, 2014. This shall apply to all applications in the Central Office and All Regional Franchising Regulatory Boards including ARMM, CARAGA, and CAR. ISAaTH
3. To determine the age of the unit, the year of manufacture as indicated in the LTO Certificate of Registration shall be considered.
4. The implementation of this Circular shall be as follows:
a. For New Applications, the age requirement shall take effect starting January 1, 2014.
b. To give ample time to the affected School Transport Operators to replace their phased out units, confirmation of units in the year 2014 shall still be allowed even if more than fifteen (15) years provided that the subject Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) is still valid.
c. Starting JANUARY 1, 2015, the mandatory fifteen (15)-year age limit shall be strictly implemented. No confirmation shall be allowed for units beyond fifteen (15) years even if CPC involved is still valid starting January 1, 2015.
All other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent herewith are hereby modified, amended, or superseded accordingly.
Let a copy of this Circular be published in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation and three (3) copies hereof be filed with the UP Law Center pursuant to Presidential Memorandum Circular No. 11, dated 09 October 1992.
SO ORDERED.
Quezon City, Philippines, October 1, 2013. HEScID
(SGD.) ATTY. WINSTON M. GINEZChairman
(SGD.) ENGR. RONALDO F. CORPUSBoard Member
(SGD.) ATTY. ROBERTO P. CABRERA, IIIOIC-Board Member and Executive Director
ATTACHMENT
October 2, 2013
Atty. FLORDELIZA C. VARGAS-TRINIDADDirectorOffice of the National Administrative RegisterUniversity of the Philippines-Law Center ComplexU.P. Diliman Campus, Quezon City
Dear Director Trinidad,
In compliance with the provisions of Section 3, Chapter 2, Book VI of the Administrative Code of 1987, please find 2 sets of three copies of the LTFRB Memorandum Circular No. 2013-006 dated 02 October 2013 re: Mandatory Age Limit for School Transport Service, for publication in the Official Gazette, for your information and appropriate action.
Very truly yours,
(SGD.) CYNTHIA G. ANGULOChief, Administrative Division