Amendment on School Transport Vehicle Rules

The DOTC issues the amendment in the interest of students.
The amendment is issued for road safety.
The amendment promotes uniformity as to the duration of validity of the Certificate of Public Convenience.
The order directs the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to formulate new guidelines governing School Transport Services and/or a Rationalization Program.

The order governs School Transport Services motor vehicles used to transport schoolchildren.
The order applies a revised minimum age requirement for school transport service motor vehicles.
The order applies an amended standard classification of motor vehicles allowed for school transport services.
The order removes sedan, AUV, and station wagon from the standard classification for school transport services.

The order extends the minimum age requirement for school transport service motor vehicles from ten (10) years to fifteen (15) years.
The fifteen (15) years limit is reckoned from the date of manufacture.

The order directs that the standard classification of motor vehicles allowed for school transport services shall be limited to the following vehicle types: Van, Jitney, Mini Bus, and Bus.
The order assigns the following passenger capacities:
- A Van with 10 passengers.
- A Jitney with 12 to 20 passengers.
- A Mini Bus with 30-49 passengers.
- A Bus with more than 50 passengers.
The allowed vehicle models for each vehicle type are:
- Van: Mitsubishi L300, Nissan Urvan, Toyota Hi-Ace, Hyundai, Starex, Khia Besta, Hyundai Grace, Khia Pregio, MB 100, or its equivalent.
- Jitney: Jeepney, Mitsubishi L300/L200 FB Body, Isuzu IPV, or its equivalent.
The order specifies the following operational and safety specifications for school transport vehicles:
- Entry and exit doors must be either at the rear or right side only; no entry/exit doors are allowed at the left side.
- For vans, jump seats must be removed to allow easy access to entry/exit doors from the last row of seats, and arm rest on the right side of the first and second rows.
- Vehicles must have steel grilled windows with 1 inch mesh size on all sides.
- Vehicles must have seatbelts for all passengers.
- Vehicles must have a workable portable fire extinguisher.

Vehicles must comply with required markings, including:
- A dark yellow rectangle on both sides (3 m x 1 m) with single line black text: “SCHOOL SERVICE (40 cm)” and “NAME OF SCHOOL/S (25 cm)”.
- At the rear, a dark yellow square (1 m) with two-line inscription: “SCHOOL SERVICE - CAUTION: CHILDREN CROSSING”.
- Alternate chevron markings (diagonal black and yellow) at the front and rear, visible from 50 m distance.
The order sets the route condition for school transport vehicles as without fixed route to/from school premises.
The order provides that school transport vehicles may be ordinary or air-conditioned in terms of ventilation.
The order states that fare is as authorized by the LTFRB.

The order states that the basis for granting franchises is compliance with all requirements prescribed under LTFRB guidelines.
The DOTC directs the LTFRB to formulate new guidelines governing School Transport Services and/or a Rationalization Program.
The order links the new DOTC amendment to the need for uniformity in the duration of validity of the Certificate of Public Convenience.

The amendment takes effect after fifteen (15) days following its publication in at least two newspapers of general circulation.
The amendment also requires filing with the University of the Philippines Law Center for effectivity.
The order provides that all previous issuances/orders/memoranda inconsistent with the amendment are superseded, revoked and/or nullified.
The order includes directions that it is adopted on April 23, 2004 and signed by Leandro R. Mendoza, Secretary.