Is it legal to install heavy steel bull bars on an SUV for daily city driving?

No, steel bumpers and bull bars that stick out or alter your car's original design are not allowed on public roads. The Land Transportation Office (LTO) classifies this as an illegal "extended overhang" unless you secure a Certificate of Road Safety from the vehicle manufacturer proving the modification does not compromise safety.

And yet we see them on public roads daily as if they are the latest accessories.