Executive Order No. 56: President Marcos Regulates Issuance of Low-Numbered License Plates
In a bid to address concerns over the misuse and proliferation of protocol license plates, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has signed Executive Order No. 56, which imposes regulations on the issuance of low-numbered license plates to government officials.
The issuance of low-numbered or protocol license plates has long been a practice for high-ranking government officials. However, in recent years, complaints regarding their unauthorized use and the potential threat they pose to public safety have been on the rise.
Under the new executive order, only specific government officials are authorized to use protocol license plates. These include the President, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Cabinet Secretaries, Senators, Members of the House of Representatives, and other high-ranking officials.
Moreover, the order emphasizes the principle that public office is a public trust, and officials must uphold the highest standards of accountability, integrity, and responsibility. It also cites existing laws such as the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, and the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, which prohibit the fraudulent use of license plates.
The executive order limits the quantity of protocol license plates each official can possess, with the highest-ranking officials allowed a maximum of three pairs. It also mandates the surrender of protocol license plates upon retirement, resignation, or the end of the official's term.
To ensure compliance and implementation, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) are tasked with formulating and issuing guidelines within thirty days. These guidelines will cover the application, approval, issuance, return, and confiscation processes of protocol license plates.
Executive Order No. 56 also repeals previous issuances, including Executive Order No. 400, which previously governed the issuance of protocol license plates. It is set to take effect immediately after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
With this new regulation in place, President Marcos aims to restore integrity to the vehicle registration system and uphold the public trust in government officials.
Visit the Official Gazette website: https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/3rqOfn