The Philippine National Police – Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG), just like the Land Transportation Office (LTO), is a government-managed organization meant to ensure road safety in the Philippines. It was established as the brainchild of Ramon Magsaysay, the 7th President of the Philippines, after a fatal car crash in 1954 claimed the lives of two statesmen close to him.
For 68 years now, the group has been offering invaluable contributions to society, by living up to its mandate to enforce the traffic laws and regulations and promote safety consciousness through inter-agency cooperation. Just recently, the group celebrated its 68th founding anniversary where they were recognized for their crucial role in maintaining peace, order, and security on the nation’s roads, emphasizing on the impact on the continuing success as the premier guardian of the Philippine highways.
What is PNP-HPG?
The PNP-HPG refers to the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group, a highway patrol group established as the country’s first and only traffic control and road safety-focused law enforcement group for the sole purpose of making the roads a lot safer for all stakeholders. It was created in 1955, as a brainchild of Ramon Magsaysay who lost two statesmen who were close to him to fatal road accidents.
As a patrol group deputized by the Department of Transportation (DOTr), it not only assists the Land Transportation Office (LTO) by providing general supervision using local police forces in enforcing traffic laws, but it also enforces driver’s licenses and motor vehicle registration and regulations with regards to public carriers. Its general services are geared towards contributing to collaborative nation-building, with focus on the following areas: aggressive and honest law enforcement operations, boosting personnel morale and welfare, enhancing public service, maintaining operational readiness, and intensifying internal cleansing efforts. Simply put, it’s a bit like the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) in the sense that they oversee and manage road traffic and safety, but with a bit more of the powers of the Philippine National Police (PNP) since they have the authority to literally chase after and arrest violators on-the-spot.
PNP-HPG History
The Philippine National Police – Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) was originally established as Traffic Control Group (Trafcon) and designed to be a “specialized and dedicated” police unit to maintain road traffic safety across the Philippines, following a fatal road accident that claimed the lives of two statesmen close to then-president Ramon Magsaysay. It was originally designed as a unit under the Philippine Constabulary, which was then part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Later, the Trafcon became known as the Constabulary Highway Patrol Group before it was absorbed by the Philippine National Police in 1991. The HPG later became the Traffic Management Group.
For a few years until 2015, the traffic law enforcement powers of the HPG were given to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and local government units (LGUs). In 2015, the HPG were called back to help work against the worsening traffic in EDSA and the other major thoroughfares in Metro Manila. Now, it is known as the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG).
PNP-HPG: Mission, Vision, and Mandate
As an organization, the Philippine National Police – Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) also follows specific guides in carrying out its mandate and in how they operate. This guide comes in the form of the mission and vision and the mandate of the law for the agency:
Mission
To enforce pertinent laws, prevent and control crimes, maintain peace and order, and ensure public safety along the highways with the active support of the community
Vision
A safe highway conducive to economic growth through efficient and effective services of professional, dynamic, and highly motivated Highway Patrol Group.
Mandate
This Group from the Philippine National Police enforces the traffic laws and regulations, promote safety consciousness through inter-agency cooperation concerning Police Traffic Safety Education and Traffic Law enforcement functions and develops reforms in the crime prevention aspect against all forms of lawlessness committed along National Highway involving the use of motor vehicles.
PNP-HPG Functions
The Philippine National Police – Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) is a highway patrol with a national scope. It is tasked to enforce traffic safety roles and provides general supervision to local police forces with regard to the enforcement of traffic laws. It also provides assistance to the Land Transportation Office, formerly the Bureau of Land Transportation. The HPG furthermore also enforces driver’s licenses and motor vehicle registration and regulations with regards to public carriers.
Services Offered to the Public
Other than its tasks related to the enforcement of pertinent land transportation rules and regulations as well as road safety, here are some of the services offered by the PNP-HPG to the transacting public:
Issuance of Certificate of Nationwide Alarm (CNA)
The Certificate of Nationwide Alarm (CNA) is a document issued by the PNP-HPG to the complainant or owner of a vehicle who are requesting for a CNA for stolen or carnapped vehicles. The certification is issued upon the submission or after the compliance of the documents needed in filing of alarm and approval of the HPG Motor Vehicle Clearing Committee (MVCC) and the Director of the HPG.
Issuance of Certificate of Lifting of Alarm
The Certificate of Lifting of Alarm is issued to the registered owner or authorized representative of a vehicle owner who are requesting for the lifting of alarm. This certification is issued after the owner submits or comply with the submission requirement for documents needed in filing of alarm and approval of the HPG Motor Vehicle Clearing Committee (MVCC) and the Director of HPG.
Issuance of Certificate of Certificate of Non-recovery (CNR)
The Certificate of Non-recovery (CNR) is a document issued to the registered owner or authorized representative of a vehicle owner who are also applicants for Certificate of Non-recovery (CNR). This certification is issued upon approval of the HPG Motor Vehicle Clearing Committee (MVCC) and the Director of HPG. Certificate of Non- Recovery and is usually used or required when filing for insurance claims.
Issuance of Certificate of Re-stamping
The Certificate of Re-stamping is a document issued to the registered owner or authorize representative of a vehicle owner who are applying for Re-stamping. This certification is generally issued upon the submission or after the owner’s compliance of the documentary requirements needed in filing of alarm and upon the approval of the HPG Motor Vehicle Clearing Committee (MVCC) HPG Director.
Issuance of Certificate of Deletion and Correction of Entry
The Certificate of Deletion, as well as the Correction of Entry is issued to the registered owner or authorized representative as well as to all applicant for Deletion as well as the Correction of Entry. Certification. It is issued upon the submission or compliance of the documents needed in filing for Deletion or Correction of Entry and approval of the HPG Motor Vehicle Clearing Committee (MVCC) and the Director of HPG.
Video: How to tell the PNP-HPG and local police apart based on their uniforms?
Learn to distinguish regular police officers from those who are either commissioned or non-commissioned by the Philippine National Police – Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) based on their uniforms by watching this video from Highway Patrol Group:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
For your reference, here’s a list of the most commom questions and answers about the PNP-HPG:
1. What is the difference between LTO and Philippine National Police – Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG)?
The LTO and the Philippine National Police – Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) are both tasked with ensuring the road safety in the Philippines. The difference is that while the LTO is tasked with the issuance and implementation of the road rules and regulations, the PNP-HPG is a specialized unit designed to enforce the traffic laws and regulations, promote safety consciousness, and abolish the lawlessness on the road.
2. What is the difference between PNP-HPG and MMDA? Is the PNP-HPG more powerful than the MMDA?
The Philippine National Police – Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) and MMDA don’t really have a difference in their powers, but in the stricter enforcement and the creative approaches.
In terms of enforcement powers, however, the Philippine National Police – Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) officers have a slight edge. Unlike the MMDA, the PNP-HPG officers are authorized to conduct arrests, while MMDA officers have to call on the police to make arrests. The HPG has the authority to literally chase after and arrest violators on-the-spot. While there are only a few instances when motorists or pedestrians may be arrested, perhaps the fear of being arrested can make people more law-abiding. MMDA officers also do not have the power to confiscate drivers’ licenses except under some situations. For PNP-HPG officers, the determining factor is the type of tickets they hold. PNP-HPG officers who issue MMDA tickets may not confiscate drivers’ licenses, but PNP-HPG officers who issue LTO tickets can confiscate drivers licenses. Traffic violation tickets from the Land Transportation Office (LTO) also have higher fines.
3. What does a Philippine National Police – Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) force multiplier (HPG FMI) volunteer do?
Volunteers who are members of the Philippine National Police – Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) force multipliers are in no way whatsoever allowed to carry out police duties. That means no flagging down vehicles, no issuing citations, and no abuse of power. Instead, they are meant to to supplement and assist the PNP-HPG in the performance of its duties. In reality, the volunteer’s role to serve as citizen patrols; citizen surveillance which work as an additional set of eyes and will log and report violations observed in their assigned areas to the authorized personnel for appropriate action to be taken. Not only does it increase the law-enforcement resources, but the citizen involvement in ensuring the road safety and increase the HPG responsiveness to community public safety needs is geared towards an improved quality of life for the communities.
4. How to become a Philippine National Police – Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) force multiplier volunteer
To become a part of the Philippine National Police – Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) volunteer force multipliers. one must first be a motorcycle rider, regardless whether they ride a big bike or a small bike. Then, all that’s needed to be done is to register and be a member of the Full Spectrum Riders Association of the Philippines (FSRAP) at the provincial/ or regional HPG offices. This can be done by heading over to your nearest HPG office. For those living in Metro Manila, this can easily be done by visiting the RHPU-NCR in Camp Crame, located in Quezon City. Also, they would need the following requirements:
- an accomplished application form,
- police clearance,
- barangay clearance,
- an endorsement from the regional HPG chief
- proof of ownership such as the motorcycle’s registration documents (OR/CR)
- valid driver’s license
Note that this is a recruitment for voluntary members of the force multiplier group only. Under no circumstances will a force multiplier volunteer do actual police work, like issue a ticket or flag down motorists for possible traffic violations.
5. Is there a contact number or office I can reach out to for any concerns, complaints, or inquiries directed towards the PNP-HPG?
Yes. For information or complaints, you may reach out to the Philippine National Police – Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) via the following contact information:
Philippine National Police – Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG)
Office Address: Office of the Philippine National Police – Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG), Headquarters, MVCD Bldg., Camp BGen Rafael T Crame, Quezon City
Contact Number: 87230401 local 6298, 8-478-5093 (ARTA), 8888 (PCC), 0908-881-6565 (CCB)
Email Address: mailsab73@gmail.com, complaints@arta.gov.ph (ARTA), pcc@malacanang.gov.ph (PCC), email@contactcenterngbayan.gov.ph (CCB)
Summary
Traffic rules and regulations issued by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) remain the same. But, with the presence of the Philippine National Police – Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG), somehow, many people become more scared of breaking the rules and regulations, resulting in more law-abiding drivers and safer roads. After all, the PNP-HPG is supposed to enforce the traffic laws and regulations and promote safety consciousness through inter-agency cooperation. They are supposed to maintain peace, order, and security on the nation’s roads as the premier guardian of the Philippine highways.
