Section 4Sec./Art. 4

Creation of the Commission. -

(a) There is created under the Department of Public Works and Communications an office which shall be designated and known as the Land Transportation Commission, composed of one Commissioner and one Deputy Commissioner, who shall be vested with the powers and duties hereafter specified. Whenever the word "Commission" is used in this Act, it shall be deemed to mean the Land Transportation Commission, and whenever the word "Commissioner" is used in this Act, it shall be taken to mean the Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner.

The Commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner shall be natural-born citizens and residents of the Philippines, and they shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines, with the consent of the Commission on Appointments of the Congress of the Philippines: Provided, however, That the present Administrator, Assistant Administrator and the personnel of the Motor Vehicles Office shall continue in office without the necessity of reappointment.

(b) The Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner shall hold office until removed in accordance with the provisions of the Revised Administrative Code.

(c) The Commissioner shall receive an annual compensation of twelve thousand pesos and the Deputy Commissioner, an annual compensation of ten thousand four hundred pesos.

The Commissioner shall be assisted by one head executive assistant (MV regulation adviser or chief), one administrative officer, one registration regulation chief, one inspection, examination and licensing regulation chief, one law and traffic enforcement regulation chief, one provincial regulation chief, one utility and property regulation chief, one accounting officer, one internal chief auditor, and one personnel officer, who shall receive an annual compensation of nine thousand pesos each; eight land transportation regional directors who shall receive an annual compensation of eight thousand four hundred pesos each and eight land transportation assistant regional directors, who shall receive an annual compensation of seven thousand pesos each and ten assistant regulation chiefs, who shall receive an annual compensation of seven thousand pesos each.

(d) The Commission shall have its offices in Quezon City where the present Motor Vehicle Office is located, and shall establish a regional branch office each in Tuguegarao (Cagayan), Baguio City, Pasig (Rizal), Lipa City, San Fernando (La Union), Naga City, Cebu City, Iloilo City, Cagayan de Oro City, and Davao City, to be headed by a regional director who will have immediate administration, supervision and control over activities and administration of the Commission in the respective regions.

The Commissioner shall be responsible for the administration of this Act and shall have, in connection therewith, the following powers and duties, in addition to those mentioned elsewhere in this Act:

(1) With the approval of the Secretary of Public Works and Communications, to issue rules and regulations not in conflict with the provisions of this Act, prescribing the procedure for the examination, licensing and bonding of drivers; the registration and re-registration of motor vehicles, transfer of ownership, change of status; the replacement of lost certificates, licenses, badges, permits or number plates; and to prescribe the minimum standards and specifications including allowable gross weight, allowable length, width and height or motor vehicles, distribution of loads, allowable loads on tires, change of tire sizes, body design or carrying capacity subsequent to registration and all other special cases which may arise for which no specific provision is otherwise made in this Act.

(2) To compile and arrange all applications, certificates, permits, licenses, and to enter, note and record thereon transfers, notifications, suspensions, revocations, or judgments of conviction rendered by competent courts concerning violations of this Act, with the end in view of preserving and making easily available such documents and records to public officers and private persons properly and legitimately interested therein.

(3) To give public notice of the certificates, permits, licenses and badges issued, suspended or revoked and/or motor vehicles transferred and/or drivers bonded under the provisions of this Act.

(4) The Commissioner of Land Transportation, with the approval of the Secretary of Public Works and Communications, may designate as his deputy and agent any employee of the Land Transportation Commission, or such other government employees as he may deem expedient to assist in the carrying out the provisions of this Act.

(5) The Commissioner of Land Transportation and his deputies are hereby authorized to make arrest for violations of the provisions of this Act in so far as motor vehicles are concerned; to issue subpoena and subpoena duces tecum to compel the appearance of motor vehicle operators and divers and/or other persons or conductors; and to use all reasonable means within their powers to secure enforcement of the provisions of this Act.

(6) The Commissioner of Land Transportation or his deputies may at any time examine and inspect any motor vehicle to determine whether such motor vehicle is registered, or is unsightly, unsafe, overloaded, improperly marked or equipped, or otherwise unfit to be operated because of possible excessive damage to highways, bridges and/or culverts.

(7) The Philippine Constabulary and the city and municipal police forces are hereby given the authority and the primary responsibility and duty to prevent violations of this Act, and to carry out the police provisions hereof within their respective jurisdiction: Provided, That all apprehensions made shall be submitted for final disposition to the Commissioner and his deputies within twenty-four hours from the date of apprehension.

(8) All cases involving violations of this Act shall be endorsed immediately by the apprehending officer to the Land Transportation Commission. Where such violations necessitate immediate action, the same shall be endorsed to the traffic court, city or municipal court for summary investigation, hearing and disposition, but in all such cases, appropriate notices of the apprehensions and the dispositions thereof shall be given to the Commissioner of Land Transportation by the law-enforcement agency and the court concerned.

Notation of all such dispositions shall be entered in the records, and copy shall be mailed to the owner and to the driver concerned.

CHAPTER II

REGISTRATION OF MOTOR VEHICLES

ARTICLE I

Duty to Register, Reports, Applications, Classifications