NATION

Lopez revokes protocol license pates of DOTr officials

DT · Oct 13, 2025, 8:16 AM

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez launch the personalized white student Beep cards at the LRT-2 Legarda station on Saturday, 20 September 2025. The cards provide students a 50 percent fare discount on LRT and MRT lines as part of the government’s push to ease commuting costs and improve access to public transport. — Photograph by Yummie Dingding for DAILY TRIBUNE

Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez on Monday ordered the revocation of protocol license plates issued to officials of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and its attached agencies to prevent misuse and abuse of special government license plates.

The directive follows President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s order prohibiting government officials and employees from indiscriminately using special license plates to avoid traffic violations and apprehensions.

In a memorandum dated Oct. 13, Lopez revoked all previously issued authorizations for protocol license plates given to officials of the DOTr Central Office, sectoral and attached agencies, and corporations. The order requires concerned officials to surrender the plates immediately.

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is coordinating the implementation of the directive. Lopez also instructed the LTO to review and clarify provisions of Joint Administrative Order (JAO) 2024-001 and submit an updated inventory of all protocol plates issued.

Under JAO 2024-001, the issuance of low-numbered or protocol plates has been streamlined to prevent unauthorized use by government officials and private individuals.

In the same memorandum, Lopez prohibited the use of sirens, blinkers, and other signaling devices—commonly known as “wang-wang”—by officials of the DOTr and its attached agencies. This follows President Marcos’ Administrative Order No. 18, which restricts the use of such devices by government personnel.