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In Memorandum Circular No. 2004-012, dated May 27, 2004, the Board has already set the age limit for units authorized as School Transport service at fifteen (15) years. While said policy was subsequently amended in 2007 with the requirement for Roadworthiness Certificate in lieu of the mandatory age limit, the Board, pursuant to the modernization program of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and considering the fact that passengers under this category are school children and their safety cannot be compromised, the mandatory age limit for School Transport Service is hereby reimposed.

Thus, taking into consideration the duty of operators to provide safe, adequate, and convenient service to the public, the Board hereby sets the following guidelines for School Transport Service pursuant to its powers as provided under Section 5 of Executive Order No. 202:

1. Mandatory Age Limit: All units used as School Transport Service (SB) shall have the maximum age limit of fifteen (15) years regardless of vehicle type. No units shall be allowed to be confirmed if age is more than fifteen (15) years even if the Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) is still valid.
2. New Applications for CPC: Only brand new units shall be allowed as authorized unit in new applications for CPC starting January 1, 2014. This shall apply to all applications in the Central Office and All Regional Franchising Regulatory Boards including ARMM, CARAGA, and CAR.
3. To determine the age of the unit, the year of manufacture as indicated in the LTO Certificate of Registration shall be considered.
4. The implementation of this Circular shall be as follows:
   
   
   1. For New Applications, the age requirement shall take effect starting January 1, 2014.
   2. To give ample time to the affected School Transport Operators to replace their phased out units, confirmation of units in the year 2014 shall still be allowed even if more than fifteen (15) years provided that the subject Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) is still valid.
   3. Starting JANUARY 1, 2015, the mandatory fifteen (15) - year age limit shall be strictly implemented. No confirmation shall be allowed for units beyond fifteen (15) years even if CPC involved is still valid starting January 1, 2015.

All other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent herewith are hereby modified, amended, or superseded accordingly.

Let a copy of this Circular be published in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation and three (3) copies hereof be filed with the UP Law Center pursuant to Presidential Memorandum Circular No. 11, dated 09 October 1992.

SO ORDERED.

(SGD) ATTY. WINSTON M. GINEZ Chairman
SGD) ENGR. RONALDO F. CORPUS Board Member	(SGD) ATTY. ROBERTO P. CABRERA, III OIC – Board Member and Executive Director