Manila: Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez on Monday ordered the revocation of protocol license plates issued to Department of Transportation (DOTr) officials. In a statement, Lopez said the move is in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s order to prohibit government officials from indiscriminate and unwarranted use of special license plates to avoid traffic congestion and apprehension due to traffic violations.

According to Philippines News Agency, in a memorandum issued on Monday, Lopez said the revocation of protocol license plates applies to all officials of the DOTr Central Office, including sectoral and attached agencies, as well as corporations. Officials with protocol plates were directed to surrender the plates, with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) tasked to implement the directive.

He also ordered the LTO to submit an inventory of all issued protocol plates and review certain provisions of the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) 2024-001. Under the JAO, the issuance of protocol plates was streamlined to prevent the use and abuse of these license plates by ranking government officials and private citizens.

In addition, he also banned the use of sirens or 'wang-wang,' blinkers, and other signaling or flashing devices by officials in the DOTr Central Office, sectoral and attached agencies, and corporations. The LTO was instructed to implement and monitor concerned officials' compliance with the directive.