PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has prohibited government officials and personnel from using sirens, blinkers, and other similar signaling or flashing devices.
Marcos said the unauthorized and indiscriminate use of sirens, blinkers, and other similar signaling or flashing devices has been rampant, causing traffic disruptions and an unsafe road and traffic environment.
“All government officials and personnel are hereby prohibited from utilizing sirens, blinkers, and other similar gadgets that produce exceptionally loud or startling sound, including dome lights, blinkers, or other similar signaling or flashing devices,” Marcos’ Administrative Order 18 stated.
Exempted from the AO are the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Philippine National Police (PNP), fire trucks, hospital ambulances, and other emergency vehicles.
“In this light, all government officials and personnel are hereby reminded that the use of sirens, dome lights, blinkers, and other similar devices shall only be under exigent or emergency circumstances or situations or to ensure the expedient and safe passage of emergency responders,” the AO said.
Unauthorized and improper use of signaling or flashing devices by government officials and employees shall be dealt with in accordance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations.
Protocol license plates
Marcos also issued Executive Order 56 to regulate the issuance of protocol license plates to government officials amid complaints about their proliferation and unauthorized use.
The President has the number one designation; Vice President, two; Senate President, three; Speaker of the House of Representatives, four; Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, five; Cabinet Secretaries, six; Senators, seven; Members of the House of Representatives, eight; and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, nine.
The Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeals (CA), Court of Tax Appeals (CTA), Sandiganbayan, and Solicitors General were given the number 10 designation; the Chairperson of the Constitutional Commission and Ombudsman, 11; and the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Chief of the Philippine National Police, 14.
The EO said although the Associate Justices of the CA, CTA, and Sandiganbayan may be allowed to use protocol license plates upon the Land Transportation Office’s recommendation and transportation secretary’s approval, this shall not be “construed to authorize all other officials with equivalent rank as the Associate Justices of the CA, CTA, and Sandiganbayan and below to use protocol license plates.”
Equivalent rank
All other officials with equivalent rank as the above authorized officials may be allowed to use protocol license plates, provided there is a recommendation from the LTO and an approval from the Secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and it should be based on the list of all officials with equivalent rank from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
The authorized officials shall only be allowed a maximum of two pairs of protocol license plates, while the President, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court may be allowed a maximum of three pairs.
Both signed on March 25, AO 18 and EO 56 will take effect immediately upon publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
