Scope and Coverage
- Covers motor vehicles reclassified under LTFRB Memorandum Circular No. 2004-011 dated May 26, 2004.
- Three categories of tourist transport services covered:
- Tourist Coupon Transport Service: Includes four-door sedans, vans, and Asian Utility Vehicles (AUVs) operating at airports, seaports, and hotels. AUVs must have backseats removed and body markings without top lights.
- Tourist Chartered Transport Service: Includes coasters, vans, air-conditioned jeepneys (minimum 12 passengers), mini-buses, and buses operating under a Contract of Service. Vehicles must display body markings including trade name and LTFRB case number.
- Tourist Rent-a-Car Transport Service: Includes luxury vehicles, pick-ups, limousines, SUVs, and vans with high-end features, minimum engine displacement of 2000 cc, and specified wheelbase. No body markings required.
Design Format Specifications
- License plates will follow the full-color Rizal Monument graphic plate style but predominantly use yellow to indicate tourist-oriented for-hire vehicles.
- Plates are reflective with full-color graphics and embossed black alpha-numeric characters.
- Include "Matatag na Republika" text in black and a block border.
- Security features include a white LTO markings stripe and visible multiple LTO acronym watermarks.
- Dimensions: 140mm x 390mm reflective plates.
- For previously registered vehicles, plates include a letter "D" to indicate duplicates.
Implementation and Effectivity
- The memorandum supersedes all previous orders, circulars, or memoranda conflicting with its provisions.
- Takes effect immediately upon filing of copies with the University of the Philippines Law Center.
- Issued on June 22, 2004, signed by Assistant Secretary Anneli R. Lontoc.
Important Legal Concepts
- Emphasizes safety and security of tourists as a priority in transport service regulation.
- Coordination between LTO and LTFRB to ensure proper categorization and regulation of tourist transport vehicles.
- Visual differentiation of tourist-oriented PUVs to aid law enforcement and public recognition.
- Mandates specific vehicle criteria and design standards tailored to service type for clarity and enforcement.
- Adoption of reflective and secure license plates to prevent forgery and ensure authenticity.
For further examples of the design format, references can be made to the sample plates available at ONAR.