MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has issued an order regulating the issuance of low numbered protocol license plates to government officials.

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Executive Order No. 56, signed by Marcos on March 25 but made public Thursday, authorizes the assignment and issuance of low-numbered protocol license plates to vehicles used by government officials, cutting the number to 14 from the previous list of 16 officials entitled to use protocol license plates.

The designation are as follows:

• 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 Secretaries - 6

• Senators - 7

• Members of the House of Representatives - 8

• Associate Justices of the Supreme Court - 9

• Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeals (CA), Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) and Sandiganbayan, and Solicitor General - 10

• Chairpersons of Constitutional Commissions and Ombudsman - 11

• Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Chief of Philippine National Police - 14

The EO states that protocol license plates issued to authorized officials shall be valid “only during their incumbency and may only be used for motor vehicles duly registered in their name and/or officially assigned to them.”

“All previously-issued protocol license plates issued pursuant to EO No. 400, as amended, except those issued to incumbent authorized officials under Section 1 hereof, are deemed expired,” the EO stated.

The order comes following increasing regarding the proliferation and unauthorized use of protocol license plates “threatening public safety and undermining the integrity of the vehicle registration.”

READ: SUV na may plakang ‘7’, tumakas nang sitahin sa pagdaan sa EDSA busway

The EO meanwhile directed the DOTr to develop and maintain a registry of protocol license plates issued to all authorized government officials and/or motor vehicles.

SIRENS, OTHER FLASHING DEVICES

The President has also issued Administrative Order No. 18, prohibiting government officials and personnel from using sirens, blinkers and other similar signaling or flashing devices.

In issuing the order, the President noted the rampant unauthorized and indiscriminate use of sirens, blinkers and other similar signaling or flashing devices, which has caused “traffic disruptions and unsafe road and traffic environment.”

“This Administration is committed to promote the welfare and well-being of the general public by ensuring a safe and more organized road and traffic environment,” the order read.

All government officials and personnel are hereby prohibited from utilizing sirens, blinkers and other similar gadgets that produce exceptionally loud or startling sound, including dome lights, blinkers, or other similar signaling or flashing devices,” the order read, adding that “unauthorized and improper use of signaling or flashing devices by government officials and employees shall be dealt with in accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulations.”

Exempted from the order are the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Philippine National Police (PNP), fire trucks, hospital ambulances and other emergency vehicles.

“In this light, all government officials and personnel are hereby reminded that use of sirens, dome lights, blinkers and other similar devices shall only be under exigent or emergency circumstances or situations or to ensure the expedient and safe passage of emergency responders,” the AO stated.

The DOTr meanwhile, in coordination with other concerned agencies, is directed to review, evaluate and update existing policies and guidelines to ensure the effective implementation of this Order, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations.

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