Section 37 of R.A. 4136 (Driving on right side of highway) specifically provides that "Unless a different course of action is required in the interest of the safety and the security of life, person or property, or because of unreasonable difficulty of operation in compliance herewith, every person operating a motor vehicle or animal-drawn vehicle on a highway shall pass to the right when meeting persons or vehicles coming toward him . . .". This driving orientation technically requires that the position of driving controls be at the front left side of motor vehicles. In this connection, DOTC Order No. 94-806, which prohibits the initial registration of incoming (newly assembled or imported) RHD vehicles, was issued on 28 July 1994.

Consistent with the above, RHD vehicles operating in the country shall be converted to left-hand drive. Accordingly, the following are hereby ordered:

1. No renewal of registration of RHD trucks shall be allowed starting 01 January 1995.

2. No renewal of registration of all other RHD vehicles shall be allowed starting 01 January 1996.

3. The registration of RHD buses, jeepneys and taxis shall continue to be disallowed;

4. Exempted from this Order are the following:

1. Off-road vehicle types;
   
   
2. In-use vehicles registered and classified as diplomat;
   
   
3. Vehicles imported by foreign (expatriate) consultants working with the government which shall be re-exported upon completion of contract; and
   
   
4. Other such vehicles that are not traditionally operated in the roads and highways and are purposely maintained for exhibition purposes such as vintage cars.

5. The conversion of RHD vehicles to left-hand drive shall conform to technical specifications issued by the Department of Trade and Industry.

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) shall issue a directive to all its regional and district offices implementing the provisions of this memorandum. Any employee of DOTC or LTO found to have violated this Order shall be held liable and face administrative sanctions.

This Order shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Adopted: 16 Nov. 1994

(SGD.) JESUS B. GARCIA, JR.
Secretary