MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES
[ ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 18, March 25, 2024 ]
PROHIBITING GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND PERSONNEL FROM USING SIRENS, BLINKERS AND OTHER SIMILAR SIGNALING OR FLASHING DEVICES
WHEREAS, Section 1, Article XI of the Constitution provides that public office is a public trust, and that public officers and employees must at all times be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency, act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives;
WHEREAS, Republic Act No. 6713 or the "Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees" declares it a policy of the State to promote high standard of ethics in public service;
WHEREAS, Presidential Decree No. 96 (s. 1973), prohibited the use or attachment of any siren, bell, horn, whistle or similar gadgets that produce exceptionally loud or startling sound, including dome lights, blinkers, and other similar signaling or flashing devices to any motor vehicle, except motor vehicles designated for official use by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and fire trucks and hospital ambulances;
WHEREAS, it has been observed that the unauthorized and indiscriminate use of sirens, blinkers and other similar signaling or flashing devices has been rampant, causing traffic disruptions and unsafe road and traffic environment;
WHEREAS, this Administration is committed to promote the welfare and well-being of the general public by ensuring a safe and more organized road and traffic environment;
WHEREAS, Section 17, Article VII of the Constitution vests in the President the power of control over all executive departments, bureaus, and offices, as well as the mandate to ensure the faithful execution of laws.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND R. MARCOS, JR., President of the Republic of the Philippines, by the virtue of the powers vested in me by laws, do hereby order:
Section 1. Prohibition. All government officials and personnel are hereby prohibited from utilizing sirens, blinkers, and other similar gadgets that produce exceptionally lour or startling sound, including dome lights, blinkers, or other similar signaling or flashing devices.
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.
Section 2. Exceptions. In accordance with PD No. 96, sirens, blinkers, and other similar devices shall not be used unless in clearly appropriate circumstances, and only by motor vehicles designated for official use by the AFP, NBI, and PNP, and fire trucks, hospital ambulances and other emergency vehicles.
In this light, all government officials and personnel are hereby reminded that 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 or emergency responders.
Section 3. Directive to the Department of Transportation. The Department of Transportation (DOTr), in coordination with other concerned agencies, is hereby directed to review, evaluate and update existing policies and guidelines to ensure the effective implementation of this Order, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations.
Section 4. Repeal. All issuances, orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Order are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.1aшphi1
Section 5. Separability. If the provision of this Order is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid and subsisting.
Section 6. Effectivity. This Order shall take effect immediately following its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
DONE in the City of Manila, this 25th day of March, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Twenty-Four.
(Sgd.) FERDINAND R. MARCOS, JR.
By the President:
(Sgd.) LUCAS P. BERSAMIN
Executive Secretary
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