Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 5992

Introduced by Representative Claudine Diana D. Bautista

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to establish commuters’ rights in relation to their use of Public Utility Vehicles.
In particular, four (4) particular rights shall be guaranteed under this Act, particularly the
commuters’ Right to Safety, Right to Sanitary Transport Services, Right to Special Attention
During Service Breakdowns and Deficiencies in Service, and Right to Information for efficient

and convenient travel.

Under this Act, the rights and duties of both commuters and operators and drivers of Public
Utility Vehicles are set forth. Commuters are likewise afforded protection in the event of
breakdowns in public utility vehicles. Finally, in order to ensure efficiency in travel, designated
stops shall be established, with information counters available in said stops for the convenience

of the riding public.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is highly recommended.

CLAUDI RE DIANA BAUTISTA


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _ 5992

Introduced by Representative Claudine Diana D. Bautista

AN ACT
DEFINING AND PROTECTING THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF COMMUTERS
USING PUBLIC UTILITY VEHICLES

SECTION 1. Title. — This Act shall be known as “The Magna Carta of Commuters”.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the declared policy of the State to to uplift the
standard of living and quality of life of Filipinos. With this in mind, the State recognizes that
commuting is a vital part of the daily lives of the Filipino people. Without mobility, the public
is unable to access basic services such as healthcare and education, or fundamental freedoms.
Moreover, mobility should be enjoyed by people of all ages, abilities, gender, and regardless

of their economic conditions.

Accordingly, the State shall take all steps to ensure that the rights of the commuter shall be
fully enjoyed.

In all decisions related to the provision regarding transportation services, the welfare of the

commuter shall be of paramount concern.

CHAPTER II
DEFINITION OF TERMS:

SECTION 3. Definitions. — For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall mean:


. “Commuter” — A person who travels from one place to another using a public utility
vehicle to get to his/her destination

“Public Transport” — Any conveyance or vehicle that offers transportation services to
the general public over land or water, including jeepneys, UVs, buses, railways, ferries,
taxis, and TNVs.

. “Motor Vehicle” shall mean any vehicle propelled by any power other than muscular
power using the public highways, but excepting road rollers, trolley cars, street-
sweepers, sprinklers, lawn mowers, bulldozers, graders, fork-lifis, amphibian trucks,
and cranes if not used on public highways, vehicles which run only on rails or tracks,
and tractors, trailers, and traction engines of all kinds used exclusively for agricultural
purposes.

a. Trailers having any number of wheels, when propelled or intended to be
propelled by attachment to a motor vehicle, shall be classified as separate motor
vehicle with no power rating.

|. “Driver” shall mean every and licensed operator of a motor vehicle.

. “Public Utility Driver” shall mean any person hired or paid for driving or operating a
public utility vehicle.

“Public Utility Vehicle” (PUV) refers to a motor vehicle considered as a public
transport conveyance or common carrier duly registered with the Land Transportation
(LTO) and granted a franchise by the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory
Board.

. “Owner” shall mean the registered owner of a motor vehicle, in whose name such
vehicle is duly registered with the Land Transportation Office

. “Public Utility Vehicle” (PUV) refers to a motor vehicle considered as a public
transport conveyance or common carrier duly registered with the Land Transportation


Office (LTO) and granted a franchise by the Land Transportation Franchising
Regulatory Board (LTFRB);

i. “Operator” shall mean the holder or grantee of a valid and subsisting Certificate of
Public Conveyance by the LTFRB;

j. “Certificate of Public Convenience” (CPC) refers to the permit issued by the LTFRB
for the operation of public utility vehicles.

k. “Boundary system” refers to the arrangement between owners or operators of public
utility vehicles and public utility drivers wherein public utility drivers pay a fixed fee
or “boundary” to the owners/operators for its use as a public utility vehicle.

1. . “Transport Network Vehicle” refers to a ridesharing entity that matches passengers with
vehicles through the use of websites or mobile applications.

ARTICLE Il
RIGHTS OF PUBLIC UTILITY DRIVERS

SECTION 4. Right to Safety. The state shall ensure that the commuting public shall remain

safe during their commute.

a. The drivers/operators of PUVs shall ensure that the public shall comply with the
following conduct on Public Transport:

1. A person must not, without reasonable cause, enter a PUV or alight from it, or

attempt to do while the vehicle is in motion.

2. A person must not, without reasonable cause or without the permission of the
public utility driver, vacate his seat or walk inside the vehicle while said vehicle

is in motion.

3. A person shall not stay, or attempt to stay, in a seat or station in a PUV not
intended for the accommodation of passengers.


b. The drivers/operators of the PUV shall likewise comply with the following rules for the
safety of the commuting public:

1. Overloading of the PUV is hereby prohibited. The PUV shall only transport the
amount of persons equivalent to its seating capacity, based on the PUV’s design.

2. The loading and unloading of commuters shall only be done at designated
loading and unloading areas.

c. The owners of the CPCs of PUVs shall ensure that the motor vehicles being used as
PUVs are roadworthy. Said owner of the CPC shall be solidarily liable with the public
utility driver for any and all accidents caused by the PUV due to a defect in the motor
vehicle.

The State shall promote safe and efficient driving behavior by Public Transport drivers through
mandatory trainings and more stringent standards in issuing professional licenses.

Section 5. Right fo Sanitary Transport Services. The State recognizes the vital role of a clean
and hygienic space for the public in their daily commute. Accordingly, it shall take measures
to ensure that the commuting public are able to travel using public transport services without
compromising their health and the health of fellow commuters.

a. After parking at the designated terminal at the end of the work day, the owner of the
CPC shall be responsible for ensuring the cleanliness of the PUVs interior and exterior,
based on guidelines on PUV cleanliness to be issued by the LTFRB.

b. Owners of PUVs shall ensure that there is a designated waste bin in every PUV.

c. Passengers are prohibited from throwing waste and other materials within the PUV
outside of the designated waste bin. Passengers shall be penalized with fines to be

determined in the implementing rules and regulations of this Act.

d. Persons inside the PUV are prohibited from eating inside the vehicle.


Section. 6. Right fo Special Attention During Service Breakdowns and Deficiencies in Service.
The grantee of CPC shall ensure that in cases where the PUV is stalled or prevented from
operating for any cause not attributable to any or all of its passengers, the passengers of said
PUV will be entitled to the following:

a. A full refund of the fare he/she has paid;

b. A certification from the the applicable company/owner of the CPC that said passenger
has been delayed due to a breakdown in the PUV.

a. This certification shall contain the date, time, and other pertinent information
relating to the breakdown of the PUV.

b. Any holder of this certification shall not be penalized for tardiness at his/her
place of work due to delay caused by the stalling or mechanic problems suffered
by the PUV.

Section 7. Right to Information for Efficient and Convenient Travel. For the convenience of
the commuting public, the State shall ensure the following:

a. The commuting public shall be provided with timely and adequate information
regarding the routes and schedule of public utility vehicles. This shall include making
publicly available information on all public transport services, including route maps,
fares, schedules, and real time vehicle location and availability, for the convenience of
the commuting public. Said information shall be displayed at all applicable websites,
all stops of public transport services, and other locations deemed necessary or beneficial

to commuters.

b. In line with the foregoing, designated stops shall be identified and demarcated by the
State containing the information set forth in the preceding paragraph. Loading and
unloading at places other than the designated stops shall be prohibited and shall be
subject to fines to be specified in the implementing rules and regulations of this Act.


c. A 24-hour information/assistance counter shall be established at all ports and terminals
to serve the needs of the commuting public as regards information on routes, fares, and

other concerns in relation thereto.

d. For taxicabs and other public utility vehicles using a meter-system in determining the
price of the service, the passenger must always see the meter throughout the duration
of the ride. The LTFRB, in cooperation with the owner of the CPC, shall take steps to
educate the commuting public of how fast the meter should run.

ARTICLE IV
INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISMS

SECTION 12. Implementing Agencies. The Department of Transportation, Department of
Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority
(MMDA), Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR), the Land
Transportation Franchising and Regulation Board (LTFRB), and concerned local government
units shall be the Implementing Agencies for this Act, with the Department of Transportation
(DOT®) as the lead implementing agency with responsibility for coordinating and monitoring

all implementation activities.

SECTION 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within one hundred (100) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the DOTr and the other implementing agencies will prepare the
implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of this Act, with the participation of non-government
organizations, civil society organizations, and academic institutions advocating for the welfare

of commuters.

SECTION 14. Penal Provisions. Any person or entity who has found to be in violation of any
provisions of this Act shall be subjected to the appropriate civil, administrative, and/or criminal
sanctions, including the revocation of the Certificate of Public Convenience.

SECTION 15. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional or
invalid, other parts or provisions hereof not affected shall continue to be in full force and effect.


SECTION 16. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts
thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

SECTION 17. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its

publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.