EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Third Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. NO. 2293
DATE
T»ME
Introduced by Senator Grace Poe
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR STRICTER ENFORCEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION, 
INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC SAFETY SIGNAGES
Explanatory Note
In 1973, the government ratified the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Signs and 
Signals with the end goal of harmonizing our traffic signs and symbols with the 
international community as well as propelling the government's campaign for road 
safety.1
Many years after the convention, however, road crashes are still prevalent in the 
country, claiming thousands of lives every year. In 2016, the World Health Organization 
estimated that around 12,690 individuals lost their lives due to road crashes—at least 12 
deaths per 100,000 individuals.2 77% of road crash fatalities and injuries are also within 
the economically productive age group3, which have cost our country a considerable 
amount in terms productivity and potential contribution.
In 2019, the MMDA registered a total of 121,771 cases of road crash in Metro 
Manila, 372 of which were fatal.4 This means that in that single year, there were at least 
334 cases of road crashes per day, and at least 1 fatal road crash per day.5 In 2020, 
MMDA was able to register only 65,032 cases of road crashes In Metro Manila, with around
1 Presidential Decree No. 207 (1973).
2 Global Road Safety Facility, (n.d.) Philippines: Philippines's Road Safety Country Profile. (Accessed from: 
https://www.roadsafetyfacility.org/country/philippines)
3 Ibid.
4 Metro Manila Development Authority. (2019). MMDA-TEC-ROAD SAFETY UNIT: MMARAS Annual Report 2019. 
(Accessed from: https://mmda.gov.ph/images/Home/FOI/MMARAS/MMARAS_Annual_Report_2019.pdf)
5 Metro Manila Development Authority. (2019). MMDA-TEC-ROAD SAFETY UNIT: MMARAS Annual Report 2019. 
(Accessed from: https://mmda.gov.ph/images/Home/FOI/MMARAS/MMARAS_Annual_Report_2019.pdf)


337 fatal crashes.6 This decrease in incidents may be attributed to the iockdowns 
impiemented in iight of the pandemic.
There are of course a muititude of factors that contribute to these statistics, but 
one identified factor is the fauity road signs instailed throughout the streets and highways 
of the country. Articies and images of faulty or questionable signages have been reported 
throughout the years7, and it stiii remains as an evident threat to both motorists and 
pedestrians. Hence, this bill.
The present bill aims to improve the pubiic safety signages in the country by 
mandating enforcement entities such as DPWH, MMDA, and various LGUs to construct, 
instail and maintain signs that are in accordance with both iocai and internationai 
standards on public safety signages, with corresponding penaities for faiiure to do so. 
Additionally, signages for geoiogic hazards are iikewise required to be placed at 
corresponding danger areas as a way of promptly warning those passing by.
Aiong with other measures, this biii wiii heip guide motorists as they traverse the 
roads and wili hopefuiiy lead to safer roads and less lives iost.
In view of the foregoing, the eariy passage of this biil is urgentiy sought.
'^^RACE POE
6 Ibid.
7 Rappler. {2018, January 11). [Right of Way] The Fault in Our Signs, Part 1 [video]. YouTube. (Accessed from: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch7vs5njD3qAaa44); Consunji, Robby. (2018, August 18). How to Contest a Violation 
Because of a Hidden 'No Entry’ Sign. TopGear Philippines. (Accessed from: 
https://www.topgear.com.ph/features/feature-articles/philippine-street-sign-standards-a50-20180818); Imperial, 
Maria Feona. (2018, April 26). Vera Files at 10: Inadequate Road Signs, 'Speeding' Driver Factors in Tanay Crash. Vera 
Files. (Accessed from: https://verafiles.org/articles/inadequate-road-signs-speeding-driver-factors-tanay-crash).


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Third Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. NO. 2293
Introduced by Senator Grace Poe
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:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. -This act shall be known as the "Public Safety Signages
2 
Accountability Act."
3 
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the declared policy of the State to
4 
safeguard the life, health, property, and the general welfare of the people. Towards this
5 
end, the State shall provide the people with appropriate information through the
6 
construction, installation, and maintenance of accident-prevention or risk-reduction
7 
signages in areas identified as potential risks or dangers.
8 
Section 3. Public Safety Signages. - Consistent with the above policy, the
9 
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Metropolitan Manila
10 
Development Authority (MMDA) and the local government units (LGUs), shall undertake
11 
the construction, installation, and maintenance of public safety signages. They shall
12 
ensure that these signages conform to the standard specifications under Section 4 of this
13 
Act and are strategically located, clear, visible and properly maintained.
14 
For purposes of this Act, public safety signages refer to regulatory signs, warning
15 
signs, guide or informative signs, signs for expressways, signs for special purposes or
16 
traffic instruction signs, hazard markers, road works signs, warning signages in areas
17 
vulnerable to landslides, floods, storm surge, and other hazards, as well as other risk


1 
reduction signages that are officiaily designed or erected by the national government,
2 
local government, or other pertinent government agencies pursuant to any government
3 
project or campaign and for the purpose of public safety.
4 
Section 4. Public Safety Signages Standard. - All public safety signages shall
5 
conform to the standard specifications prescribed under Presidential Decree No. 1096,
6 
otherwise known as the "National Building Code of the Philippines", DPWH Road Signs
7 
and Pavement Markings Manual, the Outdoor Landslide Warning Signage of the
8 
Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Mines and Geo Sciences Bureau
9 
(DENR-MGB), the pertinent provisions of the 1968 Vienna on Road Signs and Signals, and
10 
other relevant laws and issuances from government agencies.
11 
Section 5. Public Safety Signages on Geologic Hazards. -The DENR-MGB,
12 
in coordination with other pertinent government agencies, shall update the geohazard
13 
map and identify areas that are susceptible or prone to various geologic hazards such as
14 
floods, landslides, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions and other similar calamities.
15 
It shall then coordinate with the affected city and municipal engineers, DPWH, and MMDA
16 
for the proper installment of public safety signages on geologic hazards. These signages
17 
shall conform to the standard specifications under Section 4 of this Act and are
18 
strategically located, clear, visible, and properly maintained.
19 
Section 6. Officers in Charge for Road and Traffic Public Safety Signages.
20 
-The DPWH through its respective District Engineers in case of national roads, the MMDA
21 
through the Director of the Traffic Engineering Center in case of national roads In Metro
22 
Manila, and the LGUs through the City or Municipal engineers in case of local roads shall
23 
be responsible for the duties and responsibilities mentioned under Sections 3, 4 and 5 of
24 
this Act.
25 
Section 7. Administrative Penalties. - In case an injury or death occurs due
26 
to: (a) lack of an installation of public safety signages despite being identified as areas of
27 
potential risk or danger by the DENR-MGB; (b) construction of public safety signages
28 
contrary to the standards provided under Section 4 of this Act; or (c) lack or poor
29 
maintenance of public safety signages; the DPWH district engineer involved, the MMDA
30 
Director of the Traffic Engineering Center, or the City or Municipal Engineer shall, after


1 
due notice and hearing, suffer the administrative penalty of suspension of one (1) month
2 
and one (1) day to three (3) months, for the first offense; three (3) months and one (1)
3 
day to six (6) months, for the second offense; six (6) months and one (1) day to one (1)
4 
year, for the third offense; and dismissal from service, for the fourth offense.
5 
Section 8. Funding. -The amount necessary for the initial implementation of
6 
this Act shall be charged against the current appropriations of the concerned agency or
7 
city or municipality. Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for continued
8 
implementation shall be Included in the annual budget of the concerned agency or city
9 
or municipality.
10 
Section 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days
11 
from the approval of this Act, the Secretary of Interior and Local Government, in
12 
coordination with the Secretary of Public Works and Highways and the Secretary of
13 
Environment and Natural Resources, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations
14 
implementing the provisions of this Act.
15 
Section 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, or rules and
16 
regulations which are inconsistent or contrary to the provisions of this Act are hereby
17 
amended or repealed accordingly.
18 
Section 11. Effectivity Clause. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
19 
after publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,