SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHIUPPINES 
) 
FIRST REGULAR SESSION 
)
S E N A T E
W
 m
’fl‘ oH ht A^rm ta rjl
17 W/IR-8 P5;|5
f^CEIvLUliY:
S.B. No. 1375
Introduced by Senator JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO
AN ACT
CREATING A NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In the Philippines, the creation of an independent government agency to 
promote transportation safety has come of age. It is always visualized that an 
agency would promote impartiality and vigor in tlie conduct of investigation 
for major accidents involving all types of public utility vehicles or vessels that 
are regulated by appraisal and assessment of the operating practices and 
regulations of all appropriate agencies. It is also envisioned to call for the 
making of conclusions and recommendations that may be critical or adverse to 
any agency and officials.
Tliis bill seeks to create a National Transportation and Safety Board 
(NTSB), which shall be an independent and non-regulatory agency to ensure 
comprehensive and impartial investigations of transportation accidents. It shall 
primarily be respoiisible for the analysis, evaluation and prevention of 
accidents on air, marine and land transportation including railways and 
pipeline systems, for the effective promotion of riders' safety and prevent loss 
of life and property.
The mission of the Board is to engage in the investigation and 
determination of probable cause of transportation accidents, the issuance of 
safety recommendations and special studies directed at preventing recurrence


of accidents and evaluating the effectiveness of concern government agencies 
as well as their policies in preventing transportation accidents.
In view of the foregoing, passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
—
•
JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
)
Senate
o( ll)f sill rifU ry
> V.
'17 
MAR- 8  
P 6  ;15
S E N A T E
S.B. No. 
1375
RECEIVED BY;
Introduced by Senator JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO
AN ACT
CREATING A NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of tlie Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - Tliis act shall be known and cited as the 
''National Transportation Safety Board Act of 2017."
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to prevent 
accidents and save lives and property in transportation; promote safety in the 
transportation of people, property and goods by conducting independent 
accident investigations; by continuous and objective review, appraisal and 
assessment of operating practices and regulations of govermnent agencies 
implementing transportation laws; and, by formulating and promulgating 
safety improvement standards for observance and implementation, by said 
agencies and concerned private sectors.
SEC. 3. Creatiotu- There is hereby created a National Transportation 
Safety Board, a non-regulatory and independent agency hereinafter referred to 
as the Board, to implement the foregoing polices of the State. For administrative 
purposes, the Board shall be attached to the Office of the President.


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SEC. 4. Objectives.- The Board shall have the following objectives:
(a) To prevent future accidents, save lives and reduce injuries and 
property damages;
(b) To ensure that survivors and families of victims of transportation 
accidents receive timely and compassionate assistance from the 
operators, other government agencies and community seiwice 
organizations;
(c) To ensure implementation of safety standards in the transportation 
industry and road safety, including road infrastructure, through a 
continuous learning and, with a comprehensive research and 
development process aim to strictly comply with the international 
road safety standards; and
(d) To conduct thorough accident and incident investigations, determine 
the probable causes, and publish accident reports and safety studies.
SEC. 5. Structure and Organizatiotu- The Board shall be composed of 
five (5) full-time members, including a Chairman and a Vice-Chairman. 
All the members of tlie Board shall have extensive training and 
experience in the respective field of our marine, air, overland and train 
transportation systems, and each must have adequate knowledge in 
investigation, analysis, and evaluation of transportation accidents, 
particularly in the field of accident reconstruction, safety engineering, or 
transportation safety.
Members of tlie Board shall be appointed by tlie President of tlie 
Philippines for a term of (6) six years. Of those first appointed, two 
members shall hold office for six (6) years, two members for four years 
and the last member for two years. Appointment to any vacancy shall 
only be for the unexpired term of tlie predecessor. In no case shall any 
Member be appointed or designated in a temporary or acting capacity. 
Any member of the Board may be removed by the President for 
inefficiency, neglect of duty, malfeasance in office or any other legal 
cause.
No member of the Board shall concurrently hold any other 
government office or position, or be employed in any government- 
owned or controlled corporation or entity or any private, business


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enterprise whose interest may be in conflict with the Board's function 
and duties.
The Chairman shall be the cliief executive officer of the Board 
Tliree (3) members of the Board shall constitute a quorum for tlie 
transaction of any function of the Board.
Tlie Board shall establish and maintain distinct and appropriate 
staffed bureaus, divisions, or offices to investigate and report on 
accidents involving each of the following modes of transportation; (a) 
aviation; (b) maritime; and (c) overland including railroad and tracked 
veliicles.
SEC. 6. Office of the Executive Director- The Board shall have an 
Executive Director who shall be appointed by tlie President of the 
Pliilippines upon recommendation of the Board. The Managing Director 
shall have the following functions:
(1) Assist the Chairman in the discharge of his functions as 
executive and administrative head of tlie Board;
(2) Coordinate and direct the activities of the staff and is 
responsible for the day-to-day management of the affairs and 
activities of the Board.
(3) Recommend and develop plans to acliieve the Board's 
objectives; and
(4) Provide secretariat services to the Board.
SEC. 7. Compensation - The salary of the Chairman and the members of 
the Board shall be the same as those of the Chairman and Members of the 
different Constitutional Commissions. Tlie salary of the Chairman and 
Members of the Board shall not be decreased during their tenure.
SEC. 8. Personnel- Subject to civil service laws, rules and regulations, the 
Board is authorized to select, appoint, emplo}r, and fix the compensation 
of such officers and employees, including investigators and attorneys, as 
shall be necessary to carry out its powers and duties.


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SEC. 9. Duties and Powers of the Board.- The primary function of the 
Board is to promote safety in transportation.
(A) 
Duties of the Board.- The Board shall:
(1) Investigate and determine the facts, conditions, and 
circumstances and the cause or probable cause or causes of 
any air, overland and maritime accidents.
Nothing herein shall prevent the Board from making further 
inquiries on accidents already investigated by existing accident 
investigating bodies.
Furthermore, the Board may require tlie submission of their 
records, reports, findings and recommendation of past 
investigation.
The Board sliall be the primary government body to conduct 
accident investigations under its jurisdiction. Other agencies 
mandated to investigate concurrently such accidents shall 
coordinate witli the Board in the performance of its functions. 
In addition, it shall give full support to the actions and policies 
dictated by the Board during the conduct of such investigations.
(2) Report on the facts, conditions, and circumstances of each 
accident investigated pursuant to paragraph (1) of this 
subsection and cause such reports to be made available to 
the public;
(3) Issue periodic reports to Congress and government agencies 
concerned with transportation safety;
(4) Make transportation safety recommendations to national 
agencies and private organizations to reduce tlie likelihood 
of recurrences of transportation accidents;
(5) Initiate and conduct special studies and investigations on 
matters pertaining to safety in transportation;
(6) Assess and evaluate techniques and methods of accident 
investigation and prepare and publish from time to time 
recommended procedures for accident investigations;


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(7) Evaluate and publish the findings of the Board witli respect 
to tlie transportation safety consciousness and effectiveness 
in preventing accidents of otlier government agencies, as 
well as promote transportation safety consciousness in both 
the national and local government;
(8) Evaluate the adequacy of safeguards and procedures 
concerning the transportation of hazardous materials and 
the performance of carriers and other government agencies 
charged with assuring the safe transportation of such 
materials;
(9) Prepare and submit annual reports which shall include 
specific proposals for corrective legislation to the 
Department of Transportation and Communications, witli 
copies simultaneously furnished to tire appropriate 
committees of tlie Senate and House of Representatives;
(B) Powers of the Board.-
(1) The Board may conduct such hearings, sit and act as such 
times and places, administer oaths and subpoena such 
witness {ad testificandum) or subpoena {duces tecum) the 
production of such evidence as the Board or such officer 
may deem necessary. Subpoenas shall be issued under the 
signature of the Chairman and may be served by any person 
designated by the Chairman.
(2) Any employee of the Board, upon presenting appropriate 
credentials and a written notice of inspection authority, is 
authorized to enter any property where a transportation 
accident has occurred, or where wreckage is found, or where 
any such accident is located, and do all things necessary for 
the proper conduct of investigation. Tlie employees may 
inspect, at a reasonable time, records, files processes, 
controls and facilities relevant to tlie investigations of such 
accident. Each inspection shall commenced and completed 
with reasonable promptness and the results of such 
inspection be made available to concerned parties.


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(3) The Board shall have the power to cite for contempt any 
person in case of contumacy or refusal to obey a subpoena, 
an order, or an inspection notice of the Board or any duly 
designated employee thereof.
(4) The Board is authorizes to enter into such contracts, leases, 
cooperative agreements, or other transactions as may be 
necessary in the conduct of the functions and the duties of 
the Board under this Section, with any government entity or 
any person.
(5) The Board is authorized to;
(a) Use, on a reimbursable basis or otherwise, when 
appropriate, 
available 
seivices, 
equipment, 
personnel and facilities of the Department of 
Transportation, the Department of National 
Defense, the Department of Interior and Ltxzal 
Government, the Department of Public Works and 
Highways 
and 
other 
agencies 
and 
instrumentalities of the government in the conduct 
of its investigations.
(b) Employ recognized experts and consultants on 
the accidents under investigation whom shall be 
paid by compensation fixed by the Board: 
Provided, That no more tlian two consultants 
shall be appointed for each incident being 
investigated.
(c) Accept voluntary and uncompensated services 
notwithstanding any other provision of law; and
(d) Accept gifts or donations of money or property, 
whether real or personal.
(6) Establish such niles and regulations as may be necessary to 
the exercise of its powers and functions under this Act.


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SEC. 10. Seal.- The Board shall have a seal which shall be officially 
recognized.
SEC. 11. Annual Report.- The Board shall report to Congress on the 
second week of August of each year. Such report shall include, but not 
limited to-
(1) a statistical and analytical summar}7 of the transportation 
accident investigations conducted and reviewed by the Board 
to reduce the likelihood of recurrence of such accidents together 
with the observed response to each recommendation;
(2) a sui-vey and summary, in such detail as the Board deems 
advisable, of the recommendations made by the Board to 
reduce the likelihood of recurrence of such accidents together 
with the obsei*ved response to each recommendation;
(3) an appraisal in detail of the accident investigation and accident 
prevention activities of other government agencies charged by 
law with responsibility in this field; and
(4) a biemiial appraisal and review and recommendations for 
legislative and administrative action with respect to 
transportation safety.
SEC. 12. Appropriations.- The Board shall have an initial appropriation 
in tire amount of Tlrirty Million Pesos (P 30,000,000.00) to finance its operation 
for the first year to be appropriated out of tire Contiirgeirt Fund of the Office of 
the President and thereafter any such amount shall be incorporated in the 
annual General Appropriations Act.
SEC. 13. Separability Clause.- Any portion or provision of this Act which 
may be declared unconstitutional shall not have the effect of nullifying other 
portions or provisions hereof, as long as such remaining portions or provisions 
can still subsist and be given effect in their entirely.
SEC. 14. Repealing Clause.- All laws, decrees, orders, proclamation, rules 
and regulations, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with any of this Act are 
hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.


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SEC. 15. Effectivity.- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,