Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Queson City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bit no, 6878

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

One factor of road accidents is driver fatigue—more specifically, drowsiness. Long
drives can be especially dangerous as drivers are prone to doze off and lose
concentration, mostly during night. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine even
likened drowsy driving to driving under influence, saying that it “is similar to alcohol in
how it compromises driving ability by reducing alertness”. Studies have shown that at
least a quarter of road accidents that happen are due to driver fatigue”.

This bill intends to prevent future road accidents caused by such and hopes to serve
as an encouragement for self-discipline among our citizens by proposing to penalize
continuous driving for more than 12 hours in a 24-hour period. Passenger buses are
especially prone to committing this as they cater to popular tourist destinations that
are 6 to 13 hours away by land transportation. The bill also aims to penalize companies
or institutions that allow their drivers to drive on duty without rest and driving shifts.

The approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

LUIS RA’ IND “i \Y” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

* https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/09/the-healthy-bigep-project| ¢_7027430.html
2 http://business.inquirer.net/1 14219/wake-up-to-the-dange¥-of-road-faNigue-this-holy-week


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
‘Second Regular Session

House BILL No. 8878

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT
PENALIZING CONTINUOUS DRIVING DUTY EXCEEDING TWELVE (12) HOURS
IN ANY TWENTY-FOUR (24) HOUR PERIOD

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. — \t is hereby declared the policy of the State to
secure and safeguard its motorists from the possibility of fatal accidents caused by
unregulated driving. Article Il, Section 5 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides
that the maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, liberty, and property,
and the promotion of the general welfare are essential for the enjoyment by all the
people of the blessings of democracy.

SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. — For the purposes of this Act, the following terms
are defined as below:

a) Motor Vehicle - shall mean any land vehicle transportation used to carry
persons or goods, including passenger vehicles such as public utility vehicles
and commercial buses or coaches, and trailers and trucks having any number
of wheels;

b) Driver — shall mean every person operating a motor vehicle and issued a
license by the Land Transportation Office, whether non-professional or
professional;


c) Owner — shall mean the actual legal owner of a motor vehicle, in whose name
such vehicle is duly registered with the Land Transportation Office.

SECTION 3. Allowed number of continuous hours to operate a motor vehicle. —
The actual number of hours allowed to operate a motor vehicle shall not exceed twelve
(12) continuous hours by a single driver on duty in any twenty-four (24) hour period.
Travel by a person or persons and transport of goods for trips exceeding twelve (12)
hours from the point of origin to end of destinations shall be allowed granted that the
motor vehicle is operated by drivers in shifting schedules during duty.

SECTION 4. Penalty for continuous driving exceeding twelve (12) hours. — A
driver or owner in violation of the above act shall be imposed the following penalties:

A) Driver operating the motor vehicle —
a. First Offense — suspension of the driver's license for up to one (1) year;
b. Second Offense — suspension of the driver's license for one (1) to two
(2) years and fine in the amount of fifty thousand pesos (Php 50,000);
c. Third Offense — suspension of the driver's license for two (2) to three (3)
years and prohibition from applying for a new driver's license for two (2)
years.

B) Owner of the motor vehicle used —

a. First Offense — shall be fined the amount of twenty thousand (Php
20,000) to fifty thousand pesos (Php 50,000) and suspension of the
franchise or permit thereof for public utility vehicles and commercial
transport vehicles for one (1) to two (2) years;

b. Second Offense — shall be fined the amount of fifty-five thousand (Php
55,000) to seventy-five thousand pesos (Php 75,000) and suspension of
the franchise or permit thereof for public utility vehicles and commercial
transport vehicles for two (2) to three (3) years;

c. Third Offense — shall be fined the amount of eighty thousand (Php
80,000) to one hundred thousand pesos (Php 10,000), suspension of the
franchise or permit thereof for public utility vehicles and commercial


transport vehicles for two (2) to three (3) years, and prohibition from
applying for a new franchise or permit for two (2) years.

SECTION 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Department of
Transportation, in consultation with the Land Transportation Office, Land
Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, Department of Trade and Industry,
private sectors, and Local Government Units, shall promulgate the corresponding
implementing rules and regulations (IRR) within three (3) months after the effectivity
of this Act.

SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or
other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 7. Separability Clause. — |f any portion or provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall
remain in force and effect.

SECTION 8. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following

the completion of its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of
general circulation in the Philippines.

Approved,