Republic of the Philippines
Douse of Representatives
Quezon Citp, Meteo Manila

Eighteenth Congress
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, 8234

Introduced by Representatives EDGAR MARY S. SARMIENTO, JORGE
“PATROL” BUSTOS and PRESLEY C. DE JESUS

EXPLANATORY NOTE
Section 5, Article II of the 1987 Constitution provides:

“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.”

Likewise, Article 2189 of the Civil Code provides:

“Provinces, cities and municipalities shall be
liable for damages for the death of, or injuries suffered
by, any person by reason of the defective condition of
roads, streets, bridges, public buildings, and other public
works under their control and supervision.”

The aforementioned constitutional and statutory provisions mandate the
government to promote the general welfare of the people and prevent loss of
life and damage to property. For this purpose, government agencies are
providing the people with appropriate information through the construction,
installation and maintenance of the necessary traffic signs, accident-prevention
or risk-reduction devices or other public safety signages as measures for the
general public against imminent dangers and risks. Nevertheless, these public
safety signages are often improperly maintained, if not totally lacking or absent

in conspicuous and strategic places.


Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority reveal that the number of
persons involved in highway traffic accidents has been increasing. In 2014, a
total of 25,794 Filipinos figured in road accidents nationwide. These traffic
incidents, however, may perhaps be prevented if proper safeguards such as

clear and visible road signs were in place.

On the other hand, based on the 2019 Status Report on Disaster Risk
Reduction in the Philippines by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk
Reduction and the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, the Philippines ranked
third among all of the countries with the highest risks worldwide according to
the World Risk Report 2018, with index value of 25.14%.

It was likewise reported that at least 60% of the country’s total land area
is exposed to multiple hazards, and 74% of the population is susceptible to
their impact. Accordingly, this is largely due to the location and geographical
context as the risk involving coastal hazards such as typhoons, storm surges

and rising sea levels is high.

Further, tectonic plates, earthquakes and volcanoes are posing serious
risks to the safety of the populace, as the islands are located within the “Ring of
Fire.”Flooding, landslides, droughts and tsunamis also contribute to the
exposure to natural hazards. Of these, hydro-meteorological events including
typhoons and floods, accounted for over 80% of the natural disasters in the

country during the last half-century.

The main challenge for the government lies in identifying methods on
accident-prevention and risk reduction with the increasing incidence of road

accidents and disasters aggravated by climate change and geo-hazards. It is


therefore imperative for the government in coordination with the concerned
national agencies to construct, install and maintain in strategic and conspicuous
places, traffic and other warning signages in communities vulnerable to
inundation, fire, landslide, tsunami, earthquake and similar natural or man-

made calamities.

This bill seeks to provide stricter enforcement in the construction,
installation and maintenance of public safety signages and accountability to the
responsible city or municipal engineering the case of local government units, or
the director of the traffic engineering center of the Metropolitan Manila
Development Authority (MMDA) in the case of Metropolitan Manila
administrative region, or the respective district engineer of the Department of

Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the case of National Government.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

CONG. EDGAR » SARMIENTO.

CONG. JOR‘ “PATROL” BUSTOS

CONG. PRESLEY C. DE JESUS


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon Citp, Meteo Manila

Eighteenth Congress
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. cess

Introduced by Representatives EDGAR MARY S. SARMIENTO,
JORGE “PATROL” BUSTOS and PRESLEY C. DE JESUS

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR  STRICTER ENFORCEMENT IN THE
CONSTRUCTION, INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE OF
PUBLIC SAFETY SIGNAGES

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This act shall be known as the “Public Safety
Signages Accountability Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the declared policy of the State to
safeguard the life, health, property, and the general welfare of the people.
Towards this end, the State shall provide the people with appropriate
information through the construction, installation and maintenance of accident-
prevention or risk-reduction signages in areas identified as potential risks or
dangers.

SEC. 3. Public Safety Signages. — Consistent with the above policy, the
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Metropolitan Manila

Development Authority (MMDA) and local government units (LGUs), shall


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undertake the construction, installation, and maintenance of public safety
signages. They shall ensure that these signages are strategically located, clear,
visible and properly maintained,

For purposes of this Act, public safety signages refer to direction or
informative signs, advisory, regulatory, messages, markings, including
infrastructure project announcements and descriptions, traffic signs and accident
warning devices, expressway and special purpose signs, warning signages in
communities vulnerable to fire, flood, landslide, tsunami, earthquake and other
catastrophes, and other risk reduction devices that are officially designed and
erected by or through the National Government or any of the local government
units pursuant to any government project or campaign and for the purpose of
public safety.

SECA. Public Safety Signages Standard, — All public safety signages
shall conform to the standard specifications prescribed under Presidential
Decree No. 1096, otherwise known as the “National Building Code of the
Philippines,” the DPWH Road Signs and Pavement Markings Manual, the
Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and the Outdoor Landslide
Warning Signage of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources —
Mines and Geo Sciences Bureau (DENR-MGB).

SEC. 5. Public Safety Signages on Geologic Hazards. — Under the
framework of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council

(NDRRMC) the DENR-MGB in collaboration with the Philippine Institute of
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Volcanology and Seismology, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and
Astronomical Services Administration, National Mapping and Resource
Information Authority and the Office of Civil Defense shall update the
geohazard map and identify areas that are susceptible or prone to various
geologic hazards, such as floods and landslides, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic
eruptions and similar natural or man-made calamities, and make proper
coordination with the city or municipal engineer of these areas. The city or
municipal engineer, in coordination with the local disaster risk reduction and
management (LDRRM) office, shall be responsible for putting up public safety
signages on geologic hazards and ensure that these signages conform to the
standard specifications under Section 4 of this Act and are strategically located,
clear, visible and properly maintained.

SEC. 6. Road and Traffic Public Safety Signages. — The DPWH through
the respective district engineers in the case of national roads, the MMDA
through the director of the Traffic Engineering Center in the case of national
roads in Metro Manila and the LGUs through the city or municipal engineers in
the case of local roads shall be responsible for the construction, installation and
maintenance of road and traffic public safety signages such as warning,
regulatory, hazard, informative, expressway and special purpose signs and
ensure that these signages conform to the standard specifications under Section
4 of this Act and are strategically located, clear, visible and properly

maintained.


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SEC. 7. Administrative Penalties. — In case an injury or death occurs due
to: (a) lack of an installation of public safety signages despite being identified
as potential risk or danger by the DENR-MGB; (b) construction of public safety
signages contrary to the standards provided under Section 4 of this Act; or (c)
lack or poor maintenance of public safety signages; the DPWH district engineer,
the MMDA director of the Traffic Engineering Center or the city or municipal
engineer shall, after due notice and hearing, suffer the administrative penalty of
suspension of one (1) month and one (1) day to three (3) months, for the first
offense; three (3) months and one (1) day to six (6) months, for the second
offense; six (6) months and one (1) day to one (1) year, for the third offense;
and dismissal from the service, for the fourth offense.

SEC. 8. Funding. — The amount necessary for the initial implementation
of this Act shall be charged against the current appropriations of the concerned
agency or city or municipality. Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for
continued implementation shall be included in the annual budget of the
concerned agency or city or municipality.

SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. ~ Within sixty (60) days
from the approval of this Act, the Secretary of Interior and Local Government,
in coordination with the Secretary of Public Works and Highways and Secretary
of Environment and Natural Resources, shall promulgate the necessary rules

and regulations implementing the provisions of this Act,


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SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, or rules and
regulations which are inconsistent or contrary to the provisions of this Act are
hereby amended or repealed accordin; igly.

SEC. 11. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen days (15)
days after publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general
circulation.

Approved,