Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

irst Regular Session

143

House Bill No_*"?

Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE EDWIN L. OLIVAREZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Traffic is undeniably a long-standing problem in the Philippines. Different
factors such as narrow roads and highways, overpopulation of motorists,
inefficient traffic policies combined with a significant number of undisciplined
drivers, undermined implementation of laws and regulations, and the ineffective
monitoring thereof all contribute to and aggravate the traffic situation in the
country and makes the everyday experience of motorists, commuters and
civilians alike very intolerable and hard.

And just when we thought the traffic situation in the Philippines couldn't
get any worse, recently, we've been struck by numerous warnings lefi and right.
about the impending (so-called) Traffic Armageddon in which traffic jam is
expected to triply worsen because of the imminent simultaneous construction of
big infrastructure projects in Metro Manila.

As this Traffic Armageddon is underway. various authorities have been
strategizing and devising different ways or mechanisms to reduce or lessen the
impact of the impending traffic jam. The Malacanang even suggested "voluntary
remedial measures" which the citizens may adopt such as working from home
and/or sharing cars. Other authorities even went further as to propose expanded
number coding and four-day-work-weeks just to case the hellish traffic
congestion expected to slow down Metro Manila. This is how serious the gravity
of this forescen or anticipated traftic problem is. It will worsen the already very
terrible road situation in the said region.

Clearly, the help of every institution, public or private alike is needed so
as to prevent unnecessarily causing a great disadvantage and inconvenience to
the general public. The solution that we see as feasible and executable. no matter


how simple it is must therefore be applied at once to avoid, or at least lessen the
projected negative effect of the construction of various infrastructures to traffic
in Metro Manila,

It is from this standpoint that we are seeking the approval of this simple
bill which aims to reduce the use of vehicles and thereby Dec logged the roads
of Metro Manila. This bills aims to give out incentives to people who would
initiate carpooling or simply car sharing to reduce the number of vehicles on the
road and lessen the traffic jam. Encouraging private motorists to maximize the
number of passengers they accommodate in one private car instead of having a
one-car-per-person situation will ultimately reduce the congestion on the road.
Now, this simple proposal may seem to have a negligible effect at first, but ifwe
consider its collective effect, then the general impact of this plan is guaranteed
to contribute substantially in solving the abovementioned problem.

An average of 2.4 million vehicles pass through EDSA every day. Imagine
if hundreds and thousands of motorists would consider carpooling, such
overwhelming statistics can be cut down to an optimistic projection of only
500,000.00 to 1,000,000.00 vehicles per day.

The positive impact of carpooling does not end with the conclusion of the
infrastructure projects that are creating this so called Traffic Armageddon. The
truth is, car-sharing can permanently solve the seemingly perennial traffic
congestion in our country, Hence, we can safely say that main objective of this
bill is not merely temporary in nature but could have a long-lasting and
permanent effect.

It is for this reason that the approval of this bill is being sought.

EDWIN L. OLIVA’ L,


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

143

House Bill No.“ **

Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE EDWIN L. OLIVAREZ

AN ACT PROVIDING INCENTIVES FOR
PRIVATCARPOOL IN ORDER TO REDUCE TRAFFIC
CONGESTION IN THE COUNTRY

SECTION 1. Name. This Act shall be known as the "Carpool Act of
2022"

SECTION 2. Definition of Terms.
Carpool- an arrangement among four (4) people or more including the driver of
a particular vehicle who would otherwise drive their own vehicles, to make a
regular journey in a single vehicle instead.

SECTION 3. Incentives in Parking Fees.

Any private vehicle which carries at least four (4) passengers who are all licensed
drivers shall get free parking fees in any establishment run by or under a contract
with the government and any of its agencies or instrumentalities including
government owned and controlled corporations and any private vehicle carrying
passengers under the carpool system as defined by this Act shall have
corresponding 50% discounts for parking fees in any establishment run by private
institution.

SECTION 4. Incentives in Toll Fees.
Any private vehicle which carries at least four (4) passengers who are all licensed
drivers shall get corresponding 20% discounts in toll fees in any expressway

SECTION 5. Gasoline and other Petroleum Products Discounts.
Any private vehicle which is running under the carpool system as defined in the
preceding paragraphs shall likewise be entitled to 20% gasoline and other
petroleum products discounts.


SECTION 6. Availment of Discounts.
The free parking fees and other discounts provided for under this Act shall be
availed only after upon presentment by each passenger of a private car of his or
her valid driver's license. At least four (4) passengers of a private car including
the driver who shall be able to present a valid driver's license before said vehicle
can be granted the discount provided for in accordance with this Act.

SECTION 7. Exemption from the Color Coding Scheme
Any private vehicle which carries at least four (4) passengers who are all licensed
drivers shall be exempted from the Color Coding Scheme being implemented by
the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority or by any local government unit
(LGU):

SECTION 8. Unlawful Acts.
It shall be unlawful for any person who is not engaged in the business of or
registered to operate any public utility to demand any kind of payment from his
or her passengers in direct circumvention of this Act. Any person who will be
found guilty under this Section shall be meted with a fine of not less than
P50,000.00 but not more than P 100,000.00 and/or suffer an imprisonment of
not less than two (2) years, at the sound discretion of the court.

SECTION 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations.

The Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) in coordination
with the Land Transportation Office (LTO). Toll Regulatory Board together with
the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of
Energy (DOE) and the MMDA shall promulgate the Implementing Rules and
Regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act. Such rules and regulations
shall take effect upon their publication in three (3) newspapers of general
circulation.

SECTION 10. Repealing Clause.
All laws, presidential decrees, letters of instructions, executive orders, rules and
regulations insofar as they are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed or
amended as the case may be.

SECTION 11. Separability Clause.
In the event that any provision of this Act or any portion thereof is declared
unconstitutional by a competent court, the other provisions shall not be affected
thereby and shall remain valid and enforceable.



SECTION 12. Effectivity Clause.
This Act shall take effect after its complete publication in at least three (3)

newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.