Revised Guidelines on the Issuance and Use of Protocol Plates
DOTC Department Order No. 013-15 outlines the revised guidelines for the issuance and use of low-numbered (Protocol) license plates for government officials in the Philippines. The order specifies which officials are entitled to these plates, including the President, Vice President, and other high-ranking officials, with the President and Vice President allowed up to four pairs of plates. Protocol plates must only be used for vehicles registered in the official's name and cannot be transferred to unauthorized individuals; violations will result in penalties. Additionally, these vehicles remain subject to annual registration fees and traffic laws. The order emphasizes that all previous inconsistent directives are superseded and takes effect immediately.
May 19, 2015
DOTC DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 013-15
| SUBJECT | : | Revised Guidelines on the Issuance and Use of Protocol Plates |
Pursuant to Executive Order No. 400 and 400-A dated January 17, 2005 and September 6, 2006, respectively, the following guidelines shall govern the assignment and issuance of low-numbered (Protocol) license plates for motor vehicles of government officials, to wit: CHTAIc
1. The following officials shall be entitled to the use of low-numbered/protocol license plates:
|
Officials
|
Assigned Number
|
| President of the Republic of the Philippines |
1 and/or PANGULO
|
| Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines |
2
|
| Senate President |
3
|
| Speaker of the House of Representatives |
4
|
| Chief Justice of the Supreme Court |
5
|
| Cabinet Secretary |
6
|
| Senator |
7
|
| Congressman |
8
|
| Associate Justice of the Supreme Court |
9
|
| Presiding Justice/Other Justices of the Court of |
10
|
| Appeals/Solicitor General |
|
| Chairman of the Commission on Elections |
11
|
| Cabinet Undersecretary |
12
|
| Chief of Staff, AFP/Chief, PNP |
14
|
| RTC Judges |
16
|
| Metropolitan Trial Court (MeTC), Metropolitan Trial |
17
|
| Court in the Cities (MTCC), Municipal Trial Court | |
| (MTC) and Sha'ria Court Judges |
2. All other officials with equivalent rank/position as the aforementioned are also entitled to the use of the low-numbered/protocol license plates subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) upon the recommendation of the Assistant Secretary of the Land Transportation Office (LTO).
3. Each official can avail of two (2) sets of protocol plates for motor vehicles duly registered in their name, except for the President and the Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines, who may be assigned a maximum of four (4) pairs of protocol plates. EATCcI
4. The protocol plates shall not be used for any other motor vehicle and cannot be assigned or transferred to any unauthorized person/s or motor vehicle. Violation of this prohibition shall result in the revocation of the herein granted privilege, the confiscation of the protocol plates, and the imposition of penalty as provided by existing laws.
5. In case of loss of protocol plates, the same shall be immediately reported to the LTO by submitting a duly notarized Affidavit of Loss and or police report.
6. The LTO shall be responsible for the design and security features of the protocol plates, taking into consideration the following:
a. The use of the protocol plates shall be limited to the term of the officials; it shall bear markings to indicate its effectivity e.g., 16th Congress, 2010-2016, etc.
b. To easily identify the specific official to whom plates are assigned to, the office or locality they represent shall likewise be indicated on the plates, e.g., MKT1 which stands for the First District of Makati, DOT for the Secretary of Department of Tourism, etc.
7. MVs issued with protocol plates are not exempt from annual registration. The registration fees shall be borne by the official concerned. The schedule of registration shall be based on the original private plates issued by LTO.
8. Vehicles with protocol plates are subject to traffic laws and local ordinances.
All Orders, Issuances and Memoranda inconsistent herewith are deemed superseded.
This Order shall take effect immediately.
(SGD.) ATTY. JOSE PERPETUO M. LOTILLAUndersecretary for Legal Affairs andOfficer-in-Charge, Office of the SecretaryDepartment of Transportation and Communications