FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SEN1T£ 
S.No. 
~17 
Ji I' 21 
~ w:.. 
! 
7 , /./ 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
Vlf<:':if'IV,,,t) I1V' --- ~ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article XIV, Section 3 (2) provides: 
[All educational institutions] shall inculcate patriotism and nationalism, 
foster love of humanity, respect for human rights, appreciation of the role of 
national heroes in the historical development of the country, teach the rights and 
duties of citizenship, strengthen ethical and spiritual values, develop moral 
character and personal discipline, encourage critical and creative thinkiug, 
broaden scientific and technological knowledge, and promote vocational 
efficiency. (Emphasis supplied) 
'J 
Without immediate action to improve road safety, the World Health Organization (WHO) 
estimated that road-traffic deaths will increase by 80 percent in low- and middle-income' " 
countries by 2020. 
In developed countries like Japan, aspiring drivers have to enroll in formal driving 
schools to be eligible for a license. In other Asian countries, traffic education is instilled in 
children through training in "traffic cities," microscopic environments where real-life traffic 
situations are simulated. The kids are also taught how to properly react to each situation . 
• 
In the Philippines, road-traffic accidents are already one of the country's biggest killers, 
with children the most at risk. The main reason is that majority of our motorists have not 
undergone proper training. Most teenagers who make up the bulk of newly licensed drivers 
probably do not even know the meaning of the color yellow in a traffic light cluster. The reason 
behind this is that anyone who's willing and able to pay can secure a driver's license even 
without enough knowledge of traffic signs rules and regulations. 
According to the UNICEF report on the prevention of road-traffic injuries, more than 
4,000 people die each year at a cost of at least $894 million, or 1.2 percent of the Philippines' 
Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This report also pronounced that road accidents are growing to 
be the leading cause of death among Filipinos. It is the third leading cause of death in the 15-44 
I,. 'ij , 
111\1
1
1,11 
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age group. They also have surveys saying that for every 100,000 population, 1,414 from the 0-17 
age group die in road-traffic accidents. A big percent of that comes from the 1-4 age group. 
Road courtesy should be a way of life that needs to be ingrained in all potential road 
users as early a stage as childhood. And so our first goal is to help develop a training course 
specially targeted at elementary and high school students. Young people are the easiest ones to 
teach - and with positive results. Docility is a crucial factor here. It may be too late to train those 
who are already pushing 20, at which stage they have already imbibed so many bad habits and 
wrong concepts. 
This bill seeks to make road traffic-safety rules and signs a separate subject and 
compulsory at grade six and fourth year high school levels. It is the most serious and 
comprehensive national road-safety strategy and plan of action the government can devise. • 
~'-- 4h-vtw--- :Oy;t~ 
jIff.MIRIAM DEF~SOR SAii¥JAtpD 
• This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 
2 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
r,. " , 
First Regular Session 
) 
. 
SENAJ'.ij.l 
S.No. 
.ItS 7 
f' 5 : 11 
/ ) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago tlI"CE!V,:r,;n' 
I 
. • 
--\",t~-... _,~ 
\ "j 
1 
AN ACT 
2 
TO MAKE ROAD TRAFFIC SAFETY RULES AND SIGNS A SEPARATE SUBJECT AND 
3 
COMPULSORY AT GRADE SIX AND FOURTH YEAR HIGH SCHOOL LEVELS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled' 
4 
SECTION I. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Road Traffic Safety for 
5 
Children Act." 
6 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to impress upon the 
7 
students the importance of road traffic safety situation in the Philippines. 
8 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms: 
9 
(A) "Road Traffic" means the separate subject that teach either basic andlor advanced 
10 
learning on safety driving, road hazards, driving rules and offenses, and use of traffic signs. 
II 
(B) "DepEd" means the Department of Education. 
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(C) "UP-NCTSFI" means the University of the Philippines National Center for Transport 
13 
Studies Foundation, Inc. 
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(D) "Grade school students" mean students in Grade six (6) of primary education. 
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(E) "High school students" mean students in fourth (4th) year of secondary education. 
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SECTION 4. Teaching of a Separate and Compulsory Subject Called Road Traffic. - The 
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teaching of a separate and compulsory subject called Road Traffic shall be included at grade six 
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and fourth year high school levels. 
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SECTION 5. Teaching Module on Road Traffic.-
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(A) Basic Road Traffic. - There shall be a teaching module of basic learning on road 
2 
traffic safety designed for grade school students which includes the following topics: 
3 
(1) Importance of Road Safety. -
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(a) Hazards on the Road. - General Objectives: 
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(i) To pre'sent the traffic safety situation in the Philippines 
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focusing on the main causes and victims of traffic accidents 
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and; 
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(ii) To enable students to realize the importance of road safety 
9 
awareness, given the current road safety situation in the 
10 
Philippines. 
II 
(b) Aftermath of Accidents. - General Objective: to enable students to 
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realize that traffic accidents could have far-reaching effects not only 
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on the victim but on his family as well. 
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(c) Accidents Prevention. - General Objective: to impress upon students 
IS 
that accidents are preventable. 
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(2) Safe Commute to and from School. -
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(a) Pedestrian and-Cyclists. - General Objectives: 
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(i) To observe safety rules, traffic signs and signals important to 
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pedestrians and cyclists and; 
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(ii) To develop in students constant vigilance of traffic from 
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unexpected places when using the streets. 
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(b) Public Transportation. - General Objectives: 
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(i) To identifY the different public transport modes that can be 
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used to go to and from school; 
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(ii) To know where and when students can safely get on and off the 
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differe~t public transport rides and; 
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(iii) To learn the safety features of the different public transport 
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modes. 
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(c) Private Vehicle and School Transport Services. - General Objectives: 
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(i) To enable the students to understand better the dangers 
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involved when commuting to school and; 
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(ii) To allow students to develop correct attitude and behavior 
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towards safety when coming to and from school. 
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(3) Traffic Accident-Free. - General Objectives: 
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(i) To create awareness in students that some recreational 
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activities could expose them and others to traffic hazard and; 
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(ii) To equip students with knowledge and guidelines on how to 
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practice road safety when doing recreational activities. 
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(B) Advanced Road Traffic. - There shall be a teaching module of advanced learning on 
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road traffic safety designed for high school students which includes the following topics: 
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(1) Importance of Road Safety.-
13 
(a) Hazards on the Road. - General Objectives: 
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(i) To present the traffic safety situation in the Philippines 
15 
focusing on the main causes and victims of traffic accidents 
16 
and; 
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(ii) To enable students to realize the importance of road safety 
18 
awareness, given the current road safety situation in the 
19 
Philippines. 
20 
(b) Aftermath of Accidents. - General Objective: to enable students to 
21 
realize that traffic accidents could have far-reaching effects not only 
22 
on the victim but on his family as well. 
23 
(c) Accidents Prevention. - General Objective: to help students to realize 
24 
that accidents are preventable. 
25 
(2) The Road, Vehicle. Safety. and You. -
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(a) Road Safety Facilities and Traffic Signs. -
General Objective: to 
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enable students to recognize signs and use available road safety 
28 
facilities properly. 
3 


(b) Safe Commute to and from School. - General Objectives: to enable 
2 
students to 
3 
(i) Apply safety precautions/measures to minimize traffic-related 
4 
accidents at all times; 
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(ii) Observe traffic safety rules and traffic signs and signals at all 
6 
times, important to pedestrians, cyclists, and commuters and; 
7 
(iii) Develop constant vigilance of traffic from unexpected places 
8 
when using the streets. 
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(c) Vehicle Safety Features. - General Objective: to convince students to 
lOuse 
the safety features in cars, motorcycles, jeepneys, and buses. 
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(d) Defensive Driving. - General Objective: to enable the students to 
12 
understand the 3 P's (philosophy, principles, and practice) of defensive 
13 
driving. 
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(e) Rules that Ensure Safety. - General Objective: to enable the students 
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to become law abiding drivers in the future. 
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SECTION 6. Implementing Agency. - The DepEd Secretary is hereby authorized and 
17 
directed to adopt a system to implement. and carry out the provisions of this Act. The DepEd 
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shall, within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, promulgate rules and regulations, 
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including those bf disciplinary nature, to carry out and enforce the provisions of this Act. 
20 
SECTION 7. Coordinating Agency. - The UP-NCTSFI is hereby authorized to assist the 
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DepEd in designing the teaching module on road traffic safety. 
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SECTION 8. Educational Materials. - It shall be obligatory on all grade schools and 
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high schools to keep in their libraries an adequate number of copies of the textbook, primer, and 
24 
leaflet on Road Traffic to be issued by the DepEd. The DepEd shall determine the adequacy of 
25 
the number of books, depending upon the enrollment of the grade school and high school 
26 
students. 
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, . 
SECTION 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
2 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
3 
valid and subsisting. 
4 
SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
5 
order, letter of instruction, administrative. order, rule or regulation contrary to, or inconsistent 
6 
with, the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
7 
SECTION 11. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen days (15) days after 
8 
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved. 
5