Speed limits in the Philippines

Speed limits in the Philippines are specified in Republic Act No. 4136, or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code of the Philippines, which took effect on its approval on June 20, 1964.[1] The act covers a number of areas other areas than speed limits, and was amended regarding some of those areas by Republic Act No. 10930, which was approved on August 2, 2017.[2]

A speed limit sign used in the Philippines

As of 2023, RA 4136 is listed as current by the Land Transportation Office.[3] Speed limits covered in the act mainly apply to national roads, but lower speed limits may be specified on provincial and local roads in the interest of road safety and design speed, but not exceeding that of RA 4136.[4] Roads within private property are not subject to the speed limits of RA 4136.

Nonwithstanding the above, the generally applied speed limit on most highways is 60 km/h (37 mph) and 100 km/h (62 mph) on most expressways.

The speed limit sign is a red circle with numbers inside as in most countries including Japan, Thailand and Malaysia.

Speed limits specified by RA 4136

RA 4136 states that any person driving a motor vehicle on a highway shall:

  • Drive at a "careful and prudent speed" not greater nor less than is "reasonable and proper" with due regard for the traffic, the width of the highway, and of any other existing and prior conditions
  • No person shall drive any motor vehicle at such a speed as to endanger the life, limb and property of any person, nor at a speed greater than will permit him to bring the vehicle to a stop within an assured clear distance ahead.[1]

Based on the above provisions, RA 4136 defines maximum allowed speed limits, which only apply to all kinds of motor vehicles on public highways, including cars, motorcycles, jeepneys, and trucks.[1]

All public thoroughfares, boulevards, driveways, avenues, parks, and alleys are defined as "public highways" under this act. As such, speed limits do not apply to corridors within private property.[1]

Maximum allowable speeds according to RA 4136[1]
Roadway type Passenger cars and motorcyclesMotor trucks and buses
Open country roads, with no “blind corners” not closely bordered by habitations 80 km/h (50 mph)50 km/h (31 mph)
On “through streets” or boulevards, clear of traffic, with no ” blind corners,” when so designated 40 km/h (25 mph)30 km/h (19 mph)
On city and municipal streets, with light traffic, when not designated “through streets” 30 km/h (19 mph)
Through crowded streets, approaching intersections at “blind corners,” passing school zones, passing other vehicles which are stationary, or for similar dangerous circumstances 20 km/h (12 mph)
The rates of speed hereinabove prescribed shall not apply to the following:
  1. A physician or his driver when the former responds to emergency calls;
  2. The driver of a hospital ambulance on the way to and from the place of accident or other emergency;
  3. Any driver bringing a wounded or sick person for emergency treatment to a hospital, clinic, or any other similar place;
  4. The driver of a motor vehicle belonging to the Armed Forces while in use for official purposes in times of riot, insurrection or invasion;
  5. The driver of a vehicle, when he or his passengers are in pursuit of a criminal;
  6. A law-enforcement officer who is trying to overtake a violator of traffic laws; and
  7. The driver officially operating a motor vehicle of any fire department, provided that exemption shall not be construed to allow unless or unnecessary fast driving of drivers afore-mentioned.

Updated speed limits

RA 4136 states that no provincial, city, or municipal authority is allowed to enact or enforce any ordinance or resolution that changes the maximum allowed speed limits in the act.[1] However, this is superseded by the DOTr-DPWH-DILG Joint Memorandum Circular 2018-001, which encourages all Local Government Units (LGUs) to enact and enforce local speed limit ordinances and to define speed limits according to local conditions.[4]

On national roads, speed limits must follow the recommended design speed of the road topography based on DPWH guidelines and standards.[4]

Recommended design speeds under DPWH guidelines[4]
Topography National Primary Roads National Secondary Roads
Flat 80 km/h (50 mph)70 km/h (43 mph)
Rolling 60 km/h (37 mph)
Mountainous 50 km/h (31 mph)40 km/h (25 mph)
Speed limits on National Roads[4]
Road classification Passenger cars and motorcyclesMotor trucks and buses
Open roads 80 km/h (50 mph)50 km/h (31 mph)
Through streets 40 km/h (25 mph)30 km/h (19 mph)
Crowded streets 20 km/h (12 mph)

On provincial and local roads, LGUs may designate their own speed limits subject to the approval of the DOTr. In the interest of road safety, these speed limits may be lower than that in RA 4136 provided that they do not exceed the per road classification maximum speed limits of RA 4136.[4]

Speed limits on Provincial and Local Roads[4][1]
Road classification Passenger cars and motorcyclesMotor trucks and buses
Open roads 40 km/h (25 mph) 30 km/h (19 mph)
Through streets
Municipal or city streets 30 km/h (19 mph)
Barangay roads 20 km/h (12 mph)
Crowded streets and collector roads

Speed limits on expressways

Generally, expressways in the Philippines have a minimum speed limit of 60 km/h (37 mph) and a maximum speed limit of 100 km/h (62 mph). However, this may vary between different expressways all around the country.

As of 2023, maximum speed limits on expressways are as follows:

Minimum and maximum speed limits on expressways[5]
Expressway and segments Minimum speed Maximum speed limits
Sub-400cc motorcyclesBuses and trucks400cc motorcycles and cars
C-5 Southlink Expressway 60 km/h (37 mph) Not allowed 60 km/h (37 mph)
Cavite–Laguna Expressway 80 km/h (50 mph)
Cebu–Cordova Link Expressway[6]Main bridge — 60 km/h (37 mph)
Causeway — 40 km/h (25 mph)
Manila–Cavite Expressway 60 km/h (37 mph) Not allowed 80 km/h (50 mph)100 km/h (62 mph)
Metro Manila Skyway[7]Alabang to Buendia 80 km/h (50 mph)100 km/h (62 mph)
Buendia to Quirino Avenue 60 km/h (37 mph)80 km/h (50 mph)
Quirino Avenue to NLEX 60 km/h (37 mph)
Muntinlupa–Cavite Expressway 80 km/h (50 mph)100 km/h (62 mph)
NAIA Expressway 60 km/h (37 mph)
NLEX Connector 60 km/h (37 mph)80 km/h (50 mph)
NLEX Harbor Link 80 km/h (50 mph)100 km/h (62 mph)
North Luzon Expressway 80 km/h (50 mph)100 km/h (62 mph)
South Luzon Expressway 80 km/h (50 mph)100 km/h (62 mph)
Southern Tagalog Arterial Road 80 km/h (50 mph)100 km/h (62 mph)
Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway 100 km/h (62 mph)
Tarlac–Pangasinan–La Union Expressway 100 km/h (62 mph)

On May 18, 2023, Ilocos Sur 1st district representative Ronald Singson filed House Bill No. 4089, which proposes to increase the maximum speed limit on expressways from 100 km/h (62 mph) to 140 km/h (87 mph). Under the proposal, buses and other large vehicles would have a speed limit of 120 km/h (75 mph) while other vehicles would have a speed limit of 140 km/h (87 mph).[8]

Speed limits on highways in Metro Manila

In Metro Manila, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) defines a 50 to 60 km/h (31 to 37 mph) maximum speed limit on radial and circumferential roads that it has jurisdiction over, including Commonwealth Avenue[9] and Macapagal Boulevard.[10]

  • Cars and motorcycles [11] – 60 km/h (37 mph)
  • Trucks and buses[12] – 50 km/h (31 mph)

Enforcement

Enforcement of speed limits are low in the Philippines due to lack of awareness of the mandate set by RA 4136.[13] To address this concern, DOTr, DPWH and DILG issued a joint memorandum on January 17, 2018 addressed to LGUs regarding the implementation of RA 4136 and encouraging LGUs to adopt lower speed limits in a bid to reduce road crash fatalities and injuries nationwide. LGUs are enjoined to adopt guidelines on road classification, setting and enforcement of speed limits according to local settings, and the collection and analysis of road crash data.[4] The United Nations Road Safety Fund has conducted training-of-trainers for law enforcement personnel who can then in turn train others in practical speed enforcement training.[14]

References
  1. Republic Act No. 4136 (June 20, 1964). Land Transportation and Traffic Code (PDF).Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. Republic Act No. 10930 (August 2, 2017). An Act Rationalizing and Strengthening the Policy Regarding Driver’s License by Extending the Validity Period of Drivers’ Licenses, and Penalizing Acts in Violation of Its Issuance and Application Amending for Those Purposes Section 23 of Republic Act No. 4136, as Amended by Batas Pambansa Blg. 398 and Executive Order No. 1011, Otherwise Known as the Land Transportation and Traffic Code (PDF).Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. "Republic Act". Land Transportation Office (Philippines). Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  4. "Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2018-001: Guidelines and Standards for the Classifications of Roads, Setting of Speed Limits Under Republic Act No. 4136, and Collection of Road Crash Data" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 14, 2021. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  5. "Speed Limit". Toll Regulatory Board. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  6. Rosales, Brando (June 27, 2022). "Cebu Expressway to limit sub-400cc bikes to 40 km/h, MC Lane". MotoPinas. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  7. Solidum, M. Miggi. "Here's a reminder of why we should observe Skyway Stage 3's 60km/h speed limit". visor.ph. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  8. Dela Cruz, Raymond Carl (May 23, 2023). "TRB open on study to increase speed limit in expressways". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  9. "MMDA Expands Coverage of 60-km/h Speed Limit on Commonwealth Avenue". Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. February 26, 2013. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  10. "MMDA Regulation 11-003" (PDF). Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  11. Ramirez, Robertzon (April 5, 2019). "MMDA to apprehend speed limit violators on EDSA, major roads". Philstar Global. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  12. "MMDA Regulation 17-003" (PDF). Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  13. "Road Safety – Imagine law". Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  14. "UN Road Safety Fund supports training to enforce speed limit laws in the Philippines | UNECE". unece.org. February 6, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
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