Tugade signs IRR of vintage vehicle law

MANILA, Philippines — Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Jose Arturo Tugade signed yesterday the implementing rules and regulations or IRR of Republic Act 11698 or the Vintage Vehicle Regulation Act.

Enacted in April last year, the law aims to protect and promote the country’s heritage by establishing regulatory policies that encourage the preservation, maintenance, occasional use and registration of vintage vehicles.

It covers vehicles that are 40 years or over from the date of manufacture.

The 26-page IRR of the Vintage Vehicle Regulation Act prohibits the use of a registered vintage vehicle for commercial purposes, except for motion pictures, advertisements, pictorials, weddings and motorcades.

“A registered vintage vehicle must not be used as a public utility vehicle, or for the commercial transport of persons or goods, including as a vehicle accredited with and operating through transport network corporations,” the IRR stated.

Under the IRR, vintage vehicles should not be required to meet anti-pollution, safety, road use and other standards that were not in force at the time of their manufacture, either as conditions for their registration or use on public roads.

The prohibition on the importation, registration and use of right-hand drive vehicles under Section 1 of Republic Act 8506 must not apply to vintage vehicles manufactured on or before Dec. 31, 1970.

“As a general rule, a vintage vehicle applying for registration or renewal of its registration under rule VI hereof shall be subject to inspection to determine whether it is unsightly, unsafe, improperly equipped, otherwise unfit to be operated in public highways based on the standards that were in force at the time of its manufacture, and to ensure its conformity on period specification and permitted modifications,” according to Section 3 of the IRR.

Restoration shops and companies, which are accredited by the Department of Trade and Industry as service and repair enterprises should be eligible to avail themselves of fiscal and tax incentives.

Under the IRR, the LTO is mandated to establish and maintain a national database that lists and describes vintage vehicles in the country.

“To support the local restoration industry, the LTO shall include in its database authorized and licensed shops engaged in the repair of vintage vehicles or in the manufacture of spare and replacement parts for vintage vehicles, private sector association and interest groups,” the IRR stated.