The Philippines being a signatory to the United Nations Conference on Road Traffic, Road Signs and Signals held in Vienna, Austria from October 7 to November 8, 1968, ratified the international agreement through Presidential Decree No. 207 dated June 6, 1973 and directed for implementation under LOI 229 issued on December 2, 1974. In compliance thereto, the then Land Transportation Commission (LTC) with the approval of the Secretary of Public Works, Transportation and Communications issued Administrative Order No. 1 dated December 10, 1976 prescribing the rules and regulations requiring motor vehicles to be equipped with Early Warning Device (EWD).

In July 1992, the Honorable Secretary of DOTC suspended the imposition of EWD. Subsequently a Memorandum dated April 14, 1994 was issued to the LTO directing the "Re-Imposition of Early Warning Device as mandatory Requirement For All Vehicles Submitted For Registration" with the proviso that the following are to be implemented.

1. Effect public information dissemination with regard to the reimposition of the requirement for EWD in vehicle registration process.

2. Public issuance on the authorized specifications of EWDs.

3. No accreditation of any supplier and/or brand shall be enforced. Home made EWD shall also be honored provided the specifications are properly adhered to.

4. Every owner, user or driver of a motor vehicle except motorcycle, shall have at all times in his/her motor vehicle a pair of early warning device (EWD), one red and one yellow as hereinafter described.

5. The weight, shape and linear measurements of the early warning devices are as follows:

a. Reflective portion Equilateral triangle and collapsible reflectorized plates, each side shall be at least 40 cms. long, and 5 cms. wide;

b. Visibility - the triangle must be visible even under adverse weather condition at a distance of at least 400 meters at high beam and it must lean slightly backwards from 5 to 10 degrees perpendicular to the roadway in order to provide maximum visibility from its reflectorized sides.

c. Height - In order to make up for the uneven road surfaces, the lower edge of the reflectorized triangle shall be at least 7 cms. above the surface of the road.

d. Weight - Each early warning device shall have a weight concentrated at the base, of at least 1.25 kilos and shall be so designed that the device shall remain in place despite air current generated by fast-moving vehicles in the area where it is to be used.

6. The EWD herein prescribed may be homemade or procured from any source at the discretion of the motor vehicles owner. The said EWD shall be presented to the registering LTO District Offices as a mandatory requirement for original registration or renewal registration of the motor vehicle.

7. Whenever the motor vehicle is stalled or disabled or is parked for thirty minutes or more on any street or highway, including expressway or limited access roads, the owner, user or driver thereof shall cause the warning device colored yellow and red described herein to be installed at least four meters away from the front and rear of the said motor vehicle, respectively.

8. The fines and penalties for violations of this Memorandum Circular pursuant to the provisions of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of LOI 229, Department Order No. 93-693 and other related issuances shall be as follows:

a. For operating a motor vehicle without carrying in the vehicle the early warning device, a fine of P100.00

b. For failure to install the early warning device whenever the motor vehicle is stalled or disabled along the travelled portion of the street or highway as provided in Section No. 4 hereof, a fine of P300.00 and suspension of driver's license for 30 days.

c. For failure to install the early warning device as provided in Section 4 hereof, and such failure resulted in an accident, suspension of driver's license for a period not exceeding two (2) years or revocation of driver's license depending on the circumstances of the case.

9. Effective 1 August 1995, no motor vehicle except motorcycle shall be registered without presentation of a pair of EWD as herein specified.

10. Any official or employee of the Land Transportation Office who violates any provisions of this Circular shall be dealt with administratively.

11. Strict compliance is hereby enjoined.

Adopted: 12 July 1995

(SGD.) MANUEL F. BRUAN
Brig. Gen. AFP (Ret.)
Assistant Secretary