Who may apply for commemorative plates
- Any group, organization, or association, and any Government Agency/Organization and NGO may apply for authority to use commemorative plates/stickers under Section 3.
Authority for issuance and required approvals
- No commemorative car plates/stickers shall be issued and used in the country without the prior written approval of the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), under Section 4.
- The Secretary’s approval must be upon recommendation of the Assistant Secretary, Land Transportation Office (LTO), based on evaluation and compliance with the documentary requirements under Section 4 and Section 5.
- Section 4 ties event eligibility to certifications from the concerned government offices:
- Events of National Significance must be certified by the Department/Agency concerned.
- Events of Historical Significance must be certified by the National Historical Institute.
- Events of International Significance must be certified by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Application requirements and documentary support
- Organizations or associations must submit an application to the LTO office with required supporting documents under Section 5.1.
- The application must include an application letter stating the purpose and showing that the event satisfies national, international, or historical significance criteria under Section 5.1.1.
- The application must state the total number of plates to be issued under Section 5.1.2.
Conditions after DOTC approval and technical rules
- After DOTC Secretary approval, the complying guidelines under Section 5.2 govern use, design, issuance, production, vehicle coverage, and record-keeping.
- The sample design of plates and windshield stickers must include:
- the organization name/logo/emblem,
- the expiry date, and
- the specific event/occasion to be commemorated under Section 5.2.1.
- The commemorative plate must be the same size as regular plates: 390 mm x 140 mm under Section 5.2.1.
- The right portion of the commemorative plate must be reserved to indicate the first and last characters of the regular plate number, with size 25 mm x 50 mm and margin of 15 mm from the right edge as indicated in the sketches under Section 5.2.1.
- Markings on commemorative plates must ensure no two plates belonging to the same organization have the same markings, and no commemorative plate may bear any resemblance or similitude with any regular plate (alpha-numeric of three letters and three Arabic numerals) or low numbered/protocol LTO plates under Section 5.2.2.
- Only the lead agency, committee and/or group duly authorized by the DOTC Secretary may issue commemorative plates/stickers under Section 5.2.3.
- Fees must be paid in advance by the requesting organization at the LTO Collection Unit, Central Office, East Avenue, Quezon City under Section 5.2.4:
- Recording fee: PHP 200.00 for each piece of plate and sticker.
- Non-refundable Application fee: PHP 1,000.00.
- Production of commemorative plates/stickers must be done directly with an LTO-accredited Supplier in accordance with terms and price agreed by the parties under Section 5.2.4.
- Vehicle authorization rules restrict who may use commemorative plates under Section 5.2.5:
- Only Cars, passenger Vans/Wagons, Sports Utility Vehicles, and passenger Asian Utility Vehicles/Owner Type Jeeps/Jeepneys/Jitneys classified as “Private” may be authorized to use commemorative plates.
- Trucks and trailers, buses, delivery vans, step vans, and other similar types of commercial vehicles regardless of classification are not authorized to use commemorative plates under Section 5.2.5.
- Motorcycles with or without sidecar are not authorized to use commemorative plates under Section 5.2.5.
- Motor vehicles classified as “For Hire” are not authorized to use commemorative plates under Section 5.2.5.
- Only one commemorative plate/sticker may be issued per motor vehicle under Section 5.2.6.
- No commemorative plate/sticker may be issued/attached/transferred to any vehicle other than the vehicle duly authorized under Section 5.2.6.
- The written authority to use the commemorative plate together with the official receipt for the payment of the recording fee must be carried in the vehicle at all times and presented to enforcers/agents upon demand under Section 5.2.7.
- Obscene, vulgar, offensive, or barbaric markings, and markings contrary to law, customs, morals, or public policy are strictly prohibited under Section 5.2.8.
- The application/authorization package must include a list of individual holders and/or users of the commemorative plates with their positions in the authorized organization/association under Section 5.2.9.
- Certified copies of the vehicle’s Certificate of Registration (CR) and the current Official Receipt of Registration Payment (MVRR) must be provided for the specific vehicle where the plates/stickers will be installed/attached under Section 5.2.10.
Sponsoring organization responsibility and cancellation ground
- The sponsoring organization/agency is responsible for compliance with these regulations by every user of its commemorative plates under Section 6.
- Violations by users may be a ground for cancellation or revocation of the organization’s authority to issue under Section 6.
Placement, installation, and allowed locations
- The commemorative plate must be superimposed over the regular front plate in the space provided for that purpose under Section 7.
- The regular front plate must be maintained in the space provided; removal of the regular front plate is deemed a violation of this Order under Section 7.
- No commemorative plate may be installed at the rear of the motor vehicle under Section 7.
- Placement of the commemorative plate at the rear is strictly prohibited and penalized under Section 7.
Duration of use and mandatory removal
- A commemorative plate’s display period is one (1) year from the month following its approval by the DOTC Secretary under Section 8.
- Upon expiration, the commemorative plate/sticker must be immediately removed from the placement under Section 8.
Administrative penalties and impounding consequences
- A motor vehicle owner/operator found violating any rule under the Order is subject to the administrative fines and penalties under Section 9.
- The administrative fines and penalties under Section 9 are PHP 5,000.00 for each listed violation:
- Improper display of MV permanent plates by the owner to accommodate a better display of commemorative/other plate.
- Display of expired commemorative plates/other plates imposed upon the owner.
- Violation of rules and regulations on placement of commemorative plates.
- Illegal transfer of commemorative plates from one motor vehicle to another.
- Illegal use of commemorative plates without prior authority.
- Failure to display the regular plate.
- For violations marked with an impound consequence, the motor vehicle shall be impounded under Section 9.
Repeal of inconsistent issuances
- All prior orders, memoranda, circulars, rules, and regulations previously promulgated by the LTO that are inconsistent are modified, amended, and/or superseded under Section 10.
Issuance date and effectivity rule
- This LTO Administrative Order is LTO Administrative Order No. BGC-AO-99003, dated July 28, 1999, adopted on 28 July 1999 and signed by Benjamin G. Calima and Vicente C. Rivera, Jr. under the approval/adoption entries shown with the Order.
- The Order takes effect fifteen (15) days after receipt of copies by the Office of the National Administrative Register (ONAR) U.P. Law Center, Diliman, Quezon City and publication in a newspaper of general circulation under Section 11.