QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 587)
The “Director of Public Works” is replaced by the “Chief, Motor Vehicles Office,” and the “Bureau of Public Works” is replaced by the “Motor Vehicles Office.”
Motor vehicles are vehicles using public highways and propelled by any power other than muscular power, with specified exceptions (e.g., road rollers, trolley cars, street-sweepers, sprinklers, lawn mowers, bulldozers, graders, and certain vehicles used exclusively on agricultural purposes or rails/tracks).
Trailers are classified as separate motor vehicles with no power rating.
It includes all pneumatic-tired vehicles of types commonly known as touring car, command car, speedster, roadster, jeep, coupe, limousine, cabriolet, sedan, etc., with stated exceptions (e.g., certain small outfits classified with motorcycles).
It may qualify under the rule if it uses the chassis of the usual pneumatic-tired passenger automobiles, its net allowable carrying capacity (as determined by the Chief, Motor Vehicles Office) does not exceed ten passengers, and it is not used primarily for carrying freight or merchandise.
It follows common usage: vehicles registered for more than ten passengers are usually termed a truck; in case of dispute, the Chief, Motor Vehicles Office determines the proper classification.
Registration not renewed by then becomes delinquent and invalid, except when plates are returned to the Motor Vehicles Office in Manila or the District Engineer’s office in the province on or before the last working day of December of the year of issue.
No owner, proprietor, garage/repair shop, dealer, or other person may exchange, eliminate, efface, or replace the manufacturer’s serial/motor number (or the part stamped with such number) without prior approval of the Chief, Motor Vehicles Office or the District Engineer, on penalty of refusal to register/re-register/transfer.
Application for registration of that vehicle shall be rejected.
They cannot be used “for hire” under any circumstances and must not solicit or accept passenger or freight for pay. For private trucks, only laborers necessary to handle freight may ride subject to limits (no rear seats; not exceeding ten; combined cargo and passenger weight must not exceed registered net truck capacity).
Hire trucks may solicit and accept freight at any place except within a radius of 100 meters from any “competing public station” designated by the Public Service Commission; however, a bona fide customer may engage the hire truck to haul specified shipments under a described exception mechanism.
The application must be accompanied by a certificate of public convenience or a special permit issued by the Public Service Commission.
Motor vehicles owned or controlled by the Government of the Philippines or political subsidiaries must be registered under those classifications. Motor vehicles owned or controlled by Government corporations and by Government employees or by foreign governments are not considered Government motor vehicles.
It sets maximum gross weight and measurements permissible on public highways (e.g., per most heavily loaded wheel 3,600 kg; per axle 8,000 kg; per axle group 14,500 kg; overall width 2.5 m; overall height 4.0 m; and maximum overall lengths depending on axle count, including articulated vehicles). It is also subject to regulations by the Secretary of Public Works and Communications.
A motor vehicle and/or trailer combination must not exceed 18 meters in overall projected length, including any load carried.
No articulated vehicle may draw or pull a trailer, and no vehicle already drawing a trailer may draw another.
Operating a motor vehicle/trailer outfit with wheel/axle/axle-group loads exceeding limits fixed in Section 8-A(a), and for registration or use of a vehicle exceeding permissible dimensions in Section 8-A(b) and (c).
The issuance of the duplicate renders the original invalid.
After inspection under the referenced inspection procedure, if the vehicle is unsightly, dangerous, overloaded, or capable of excessive damage, the Chief may suspend registration after notice (72 hours). Also, based on repeated warnings/convictions, the Chief may suspend and require surrender of number plates for a period not exceeding sixty days.