Legislative

(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 pneumatic-tire vehicles of types similar to those usually known under the following terms: touring car, command car, speedster, sports car, 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 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. iatdc2005

(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 passenger, 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.

(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, as the case may be.

(b) The Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner shall hold office until removed in accordance with the provisions of the Revised Administrative Code.

(c) The Commissioner shall receive an annual compensation of twenty thousand five hundred eighty pesos and the Deputy Commissioner, an annual compensation of eighteen thousand six hundred thirty-six 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, one personnel officer III, one budget officer IV, and one chief medical division IV, who shall receive an annual compensation of fifteen thousand two hundred sixty-four pesos each; ten land transportation regional directors who shall receive an annual compensation of fourteen thousand five hundred thirty-two pesos each; ten transportation assistant regional directors, who shall receive an annual compensation of eleven thousand three hundred twenty-eight pesos each; and ten land transportation assistant regulation chiefs, who shall receive an annual compensation of thirteen thousand one hundred fifty-two pesos each; Provided, That the assistant chiefs of divisions shall receive an annual compensation of twelve thousand five hundred sixteen pesos each; the chiefs of sections, district supervisors, and land transportation registrars III shall receive an annual compensation of ten thousand two hundred sixty pesos each; the assistant district supervisors and land transportation registrars II shall receive an annual compensation of eight thousand eight hundred thirty-two pesos each; the land transportation registrars I shall receive an annual compensation of seven thousand six hundred eight pesos each; and all other employees in the land transportation commission whose salaries are paid monthly shall receive an increase in an amount equivalent to eight WAPCO ranges each, but in no case shall an employee exceed the salary of his immediate superior.

(d) The Commission shall have its offices in Quezon City where the present Motor Vehicle 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 reg ulations 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 or 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 arrest 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.

Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Act, each application for registration of motor vehicles shall be accompanied by an annual registration fee in accordance with a schedule to be prepared by the Bureau of Land Transportation subject to the approval of the Minister of Transportation and Communications in consultation with the Minister of Finance. The fees in the schedule shall be fixed on the basis of the model, body configuration, weight, cubic displacement or number of cylinders of the motor vehicle and other relevant factors. Said schedule shall not be changed more often than once every three (3) years, and only upon due notice given to the public at least ninety (90) calendar days before the effectivity of such schedule: Provided, however, That beginning the calendar year 1981 and until changed pursuant to this section, the schedule of registration fees shall be as follows:

	Type 	Gas 	Diesel
Bantam Cars 0-1600 cc 	Private 	P300.00 	P250.00
	For Hire 	450.00 	400.00
Light Cars 1601-1280 cc 	Private 	600.00 	550.00
	For Hire 	900.00 	800.00
Heavy Cars 2801-over 	Private 	1,500.00 	1,200.00
	For Hire 	2,500.00 	2,000.00

 
Trucks/Buses, including all types of utility vehicles (per 100 kg. of gross vehicle weight) 	Private 	20.00 	2.00
	For Hire 	30.00 	15.00
Trailers (per 100 kg. of gross weight) 	Private 	P10.00 	
	For Hire 	12.00 	
Mopeds (0-49 cc) 		P60.00 	
Mopeds (50-cc over) Without sidecar 	Private 	120.00 	
With sidecar 	Private 	150.00 	
Without sidecar 	For Hire 	150.00 	
With sidecar 	For Hire 	240.00 	

Provided, further, That registration fees for vehicles owned by the government and its political subdivisions shall be determined in consultation with the Minister of the Budget and within the constraints imposed by available funds: Provided, further, That all motor vehicles, regardless of type and/or classification, which are exclusively used and operated on private roads shall be subject to a recording fee of One Hundred Pesos (P100.00) only, for which stickers in lieu of regular plates shall be issued corresponding to the year of recording: Provided, finally, that such vehicles shall not be required to be physically brought to the office of the Bureau of Land Transportation for recording nor to be covered by compulsory vehicle insurance as required for registration purposes.

For uniformity of registration fees and classification, all manufacturers and/or assemblers of motor vehicles, prior to the introduction of a new model motor vehicle, shall submit the specifications of said model to the Bureau of Land Transportation which shall determine under what schedule of registration fees the said model should fall.

A properly numbered certificate of registration shall be issued for each separate motor vehicle after due inspection and payment of corresponding registration fees.

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.

(a) Exceeding Registered Capacity, Issuance of Conductor’s License, Validity and Fee

No person operating any motor 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 the 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 Bureau and pay the fee prescribed in accordance with law, for said license or permit issued in his favor, which shall be valid for three years, and the same is renewable on or before the last working day prior to or on his birthdate, attaching a readily recognizable photograph taken by the Bureau 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 Director: Provided, however, That the total weight of the device, including 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 Director, baggage or freight may be carried on the top of a truck so long as 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 allow any person to ride on the running board, step board, or mudguard of his motor vehicle for any purpose while the vehicle in motion.

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 signalling devise in good working order: Provided, however, That no horn or signalling device emitting 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 signalling 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 four 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 during night-time, 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 motor 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 device 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.

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.

(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 crosswalk, 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.

(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 laned 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.

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.

(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.

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.