NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE
s. no.964
S»fnatc
of tl)f
B22 AUG-1 PI 34
RECEIVED BV:
Introduced by Senator Grace Poe
AN ACT
PRESCRIBING SCHOOL BUS SAFETY STANDARDS AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
It is the objective of the State to promote public safety in the transportation of 
passengers, particularly school children. To achieve this objective, it is essential that the 
State shall prescribe minimum design standards of school buses for the safety of its 
student passengers.
This bill speaks for itself. This bill seeks to prescribe regulations to mitigate the 
effects of vehicular accidents by prescribing safety standards for school buses.
The immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
GRACE


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
Senate
72 AUG-1 PI 34
SENATE 
S. f^OQ-0-4-
Introduced by Senator Grace Poe
AN ACT
PRESCRIBING SCHOOL BUS SAFETY STANDARDS AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Short Title- This Act shall be known as the "School Bus Safety Act of
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2022."
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
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promote safety in order to protect passengers of school buses from injury In case of
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accidents.
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Sec. 3. Definition of Terms- For purposes of this Act the terms:
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a) "Bus" means a motor vehicle, except a trailer, designed for carrying more
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than 10 persons;
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b) "School Bus" means a bus that is used for purposes that include carrying
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students to and from public or private school or school-related events on a regular
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basis, but does not Include a transit bus or a school-chartered bus;
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c) 
"School-Chartered Bus" means a bus that is operated under a short-term
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contract with the school authorities who have acquired exclusive use of the bus at a
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fixed charge in order to provide transportation for a group of pupils to a special school
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related event; and


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d) "Seats Belts" refer to the combined lap belt and shoulder strap that
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fasten a rider to moving vehicle and prevent the rider from being thrown out or against
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the interior of the vehicle during sudden stops.
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Sec. 4. Proficiency Standards for School Bus Drivers. -
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a) Requirement- Not later than one (1) year after the date of enactment of
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this Act, the Department of Transportation shall prescribe proficiency standards for
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school bus drivers who are required to possess a professional license to operate a
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school bus.
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b) Demonstration of Proficiency- Upon the prescription of standards under
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subsection (a), each school bus driver referred to In subsection (a) shall demonstrate
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(at such interval as the Department of Transportation shall prescribe) to the employer
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of the driver, the school, the licensing agency, or other person or agency responsible
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for regulating school bus drivers the proficiency of such driver in operating a school bus
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in accordance with the proficiency standards prescribed under subsection (a) or the
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proficiency standards established by the State concerned, as the case may be.
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Sec. 5. Seat Beits in School Buses. -
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a) 
Requirement for Installation- Not later than one (1) year after the date of
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the enactment of this Act, the Department of Transportation shall prescribe regulations
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requiring driver seat belts and passenger seat belts (including lap safety belts or other
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child safety devices meeting applicable government safety standards) for each seating
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position In any newly-manufactured school bus Owners of school buses which are not
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currently equipped with seat belts shall be given a period of six (6) months from the
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publication of the regulations of this Act to install the necessary seat belts in their
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school buses,
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b) Promotion of Seat Belt Usage-
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1) 
In General- The Department of Transportation, 
in consultation with
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appropriate safety organizations and parent-teacher organizations, shall conduct a
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program to promote and encourage the use of seat belts in school buses.
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2) 
Elements of Program- In conducting the program required under this
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subsection, the Department of Transportation shall:


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i. Encourage the local governments to monitor the mandatory usage
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of seat belts in school buses;
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II. 
Develop and disseminate educational materials on the importance
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of using seat belts to passengers and drivers of school buses; and
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Hi. 
Recognize schools that achieve a high level of seat belt usage by
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passengers and drivers of school buses.
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Sec. 6. Registration - No school bus shall be allowed to be registered unless it Is
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equipped with the necessary seat belts.
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Sec. 7. Impiementing Authority - The Department of Transportation shall be
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primarily responsible for the enforcement of the provisions of this Act. For this purpose,
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the Department of Transportation, in consultation with relevant government agencies
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and private citizens organizations and stakeholders, shall issue within ninety (90) days
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from the effectivlty of this Act the relevant implementing rules and regulations.
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Sec. 8. Separabiiity Ciause - If any provision or part thereof is held invalid or
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall
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remain valid and subsisting.
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Sec. 9. Repeating Ciause - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or
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inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or
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amended accordingly.
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Sec. 10. Effectivity Ciause - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after Its
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation, whichever comes
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earlier.
Approved.