FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
Introduced by Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to amend Republic Act No. 8750, otherwise known as the Seatbelts Use 
Act of 1999 by requiring all passengers and drivers of school services such as school 
buses to use their seatbelts. 
Crash test and case study data indicate that seat belts provide improved crash protection 
and are especially beneficial in side-impact and rollover school bus accidents. Seat belts 
also reduce other types of injuries by restraining children who may otherwise be out of 
their seats. This also helps improve passenger behavior and reduce distractions to school 
bus drivers. In addition, seat belts provide another important benefit, namely, educating 
children as to seat belt use and reinforcing seat belt use in motor vehicles. 
Although school services accidents are relatively rare in the country, when they do occur, 
innocent children wind up as casualties, and the whole community is affected. It is 
therefore imperative to promote the safety of our children by providing standards in their 
public transportation. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this measure is earnestly sought. 
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ANT~NIO “SONNY” F. TRILLANES 
Senator 
Recommendations 
from 
Governor’s 
Studv 
Grouu 
on 
School 
Bus 
Seat 
Belts. 
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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
Introduced bv Senator Antonio “Sonnv” F. Trillanes 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING THE USE OF SEATBELT DEVICES IN SCHOOL SERVICES, 
AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED 8750, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE SEATBELTS USE ACT OF 1999 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House ofRepresentafives of the Philippines in Congress 
assern bled: 
SECTION 1. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 8750, otherwise known as the 
Seatbelts Use Act of 1999 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
SECTION 4. Mandatory Use of Seat Belts. - For their own safety, the 
driver and front seat passengers of a public or private motor vehicle are required 
to wear or use their seat belt devices while inside a vehicle of running engine on 
any road or thoroughfare: Provided, That for private vehicles, except for jeepneys, 
vans, buses and such other private vehicles as may be determined in the 
Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), front and back seat passengers are 
likewise required to use their seat belt devices at all times. 
In the case of public motor vehicles, the driver shall be required to immediately 
inform and require the front seat passengers upon boarding a vehicle of running 
engine to wear the prescribed seat belts. Any passenger who refuses to wear seat 
belts shall not be allowed to continue hisher trip. 
For special public service vehicles [such as school services and other similar 
vehicles], EXCEPT FOR SCHOOL SERVICES, as may be determined by the 
IRR, seat belt devices should be provided and used by both drivers and front seat 
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passengers as defined herein and the first row passengers immediately behind the 
driver at all times while inside a vehicle of running engine. 
Operational motor vehicles, both public and private, which are not equipped with 
the required seat belt devices, are given one (1) year from the issuance of the B R  
by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to retrofit appropriate seat belt devices 
in their vehicles. 
SEC 2. Another section is to be added after Section 4 to read as follows: 
SECTION. 5. SEATBELTS IN SCHOOL SERVICES. - 
FOR 
SCHOOL SERVICES SUCH AS SCHOOL BUSES, SEAT BELT DEVICES 
SHOULD BE PROVIDED AND USED BY BOTH DRIVERS AND ALL 
PASSENGERS AT ALL TIMES WHILE INSIDE SUCH VEHICLE OF 
RUNNING ENGINE. 
ALL SCHOOL BUSES PURCHASED BY PUBLIC AND PRIVATE 
SCHOOLS SHALL BE EQUIPPED WITH SEATBELT DEVICES IN 
COMPLIANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE INDUSTRY STANDARDS. 
THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL ADOPT RELEVANT 
PROGRAMS AND RULES: 
1, REQUIRING THE USE OF SEAT BELT DEVICES BY PUPILS BETWEEN 
THE AGES OF FOUR AND TWELVE ON SCHOOL SERVICES SUCH AS 
SCHOOL BUSES; 
2. PROVIDING APPROPRIATE DISCIPLIME FOR ANY PUPIL WHO FAILS 
TO COMPLY WITH THIS SECTION AND ANY RULE ADOPTED 
REGARDING THE USE OF SEAT BELT DEVICES ON SCHOOL 
SERVICES SUCH AS SCHOOL BUSES; 
3. 
ENCOURAGING 
PARENTS, 
TEACHERS, 
AND 
COMMUNITIY 
ASSOCIATIONS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EDUCATION OF 
STUDENTS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF USING SEATBELT DEVICES. 
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SEC. 3. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
remain valid and subsisting. 
SEC. 4. Repealing Clause. - Section 4 of Republic Act No. 8750, otherwise 
known as the Seatbelts Use Act of 1999, and all laws, presidential decrees or issuances, 
executive orders, letters of instruction, administrative orders, rules or regulations contrary 
to, or inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed, modified, or 
amended accordingly. 
SEC. 5. Eflectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation. 
Approved, 
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