Regulation of Low-Numbered Protocol Plates

The order aims to establish a uniform system for assigning and issuing low-numbered/protocol license plates to high-ranking government officials.
The order addresses past proliferation of protocol plates through exemptions and use of plates supplied by unknown sources.
The order is grounded on the President’s power vested “by law,” as stated in the WHEREAS clause and NOW, THEREFORE portion.

Section 1 entitles the following officials to use low-numbered/protocol license plates:
- President of the Republic of the Philippines and/or PANGULO — 1
- Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines — 2
- Senate President — 3
- Speaker of the House Representatives — 4
- Chief Justice of the Supreme Court — 5
- Cabinet Secretary — 6
- Senator — 7
- Congressman — 8
- Associate Justices of the Supreme Court — 9
- Presiding Justice and other Justices of the Court of Appeals — 10
- Chairman of the Commission on Elections — 11
- Cabinet Undersecretary — 12
- Solicitor General — 13
- Chief of Staff, AFP/Chief, PNP — 14
- RTC Judges — 16
Section 2 extends entitlement to “all other officials with equivalent rank/position” to those listed, subject to required approval and recommendation.

Entitlement under Section 2 applies to officials with equivalent rank/position.
The entitlement under Section 2 is subject to approval by the Secretary of the Department of the Transportation and Communications.
The Secretary acts only upon the recommendation of the Assistant Secretary of the Land Transportation Office.

Section 3 requires protocol plates to be issued in pairs.
Protocol plates are issued for motor vehicles duly registered in the name of the entitled official or in the name of the entitled official’s spouse.
Section 3 imposes a general cap: no more than two (2) motor vehicles worth of protocol plate pairs may be assigned to any of the listed officials.
Section 3 provides exceptions to the “not more than two pairs” cap for the following top officials:
- the President of the Philippines
- the Vice President of the Philippines
- the President of the Senate
- the Speaker of the House of Representatives
- the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
Section 3 limits Senators and Congressmen to not more than four (4) pairs of low-numbered/protocol plates.

Section 4 strictly prohibits the assignment or transfer of low-numbered/protocol plates to unauthorized persons or to unauthorized motor vehicles by officials entitled to them.
Section 4 states that violation of the prohibition is sufficient cause for revocation of the privilege granted.
Section 4 states that violation is sufficient cause for confiscation of the issued protocol plates.
Section 4 mandates imposition of the corresponding penalty for the violation/s as provided by existing laws.

Section 5 authorizes the Assistant Secretary, Land Transportation Office to promulgate the necessary regulatory measures to implement the order.

Section 6 provides that all orders, directives, and issuances inconsistent with Executive Order No. 400 are deemed amended or modified accordingly.