FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
) 
) 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No: 1870 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 5, provides: 
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The maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, liberty and 
property, and the promotion of the general welfare are essential for the enj oyment 
by all people of the blessings of democracy. 
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Hundreds of children are killed and injured m motor vehicle crashes every year. 
Unfortunately, the government neither requires the use of, nor establishes certain standards and 
testing procedures for, child restraints. In order to reduce the number of children killed or injured 
in automobile accidents, the govermneht should require the use of child restraints and establish 
motor vehicle safety standards that will adequately protect children. 
Hence, this bill seeks to provide for the creation of safety standards for child restraints 
and to require child passengers to use s~ch retrains, subject to the following considerations: 
(a) The modem designs of motor vehicles in use as of the date of enactment of this Act; 
(b) The effects of a side-impact crash, a rear-impact crash, or a rollover crash; and 
(c) The use of anthropomorphic devices that accurately reflect the heights and masses of 
children at ages other than newborn, nine months, three years, and six years. * 
• This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.No. 1870 
'~:> ' 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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AN ACT 
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PROVIDING FOR THE CREATION OF SAFETY STANDARDS FOR CHILD RESTRAINTS 
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IN MOTOR VEHICLES AND REQUIRING THE USE OF SUCH RESTRAINTS BY CHILD 
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PASSENGERS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled.' 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - Thj.s Act shall be known as the "Child Passenger Protection 
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Act." 
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SECTION 2. Testing of Child Restraints.-
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(A) In General. - Not later than six (6) months after the passage of this Act, the Secretary 
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of Transportation and Communication (here called "Secretary") shall promulgate crash test 
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standards and conditions for child restraints. 
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(B) Elements for Consideration. - In carrying out paragraph (A), the Secretary and 
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Communication shall consider-
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(1) Whether to conduct more comprehensive and dynamic testing of child 
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restraints than is typically conducted as of the date of passage of this Act, including the 
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use of test platforms designed-
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(a) To simulate' an array of accident conditions, such as side-impact 
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crashes, rear-impact crashes, and rollover crashes; and 
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(b) To reflect the designs of passenger motor vehicles in use as of the date 
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of passage of this Act; 
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(2) Whether to use an increased number of anthropomorphic devices in a greater 
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variety of heights and masses; and 
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(3) Whether to provide improved protection in motor vehicle accidents for 
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children up to 59.2 inches tall who weigh more than fifty (50) pounds. 
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(C) Required Elements. - In carrying out paragraph (A), the Secretary shall-
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(I) Require that manufacturers design child restraints to minimize head injuries 
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during side-impact and rollover crashes, including requiring that child restraints have 
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side-impact protection; 
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(2) Include a child restraint, as a requirement, in each vehicle applying for 
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registration; 
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(C) Prescribe readily understandable text for any labels that are required to be 
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placed on child restraints. 
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(D) Funding. - There are appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the 
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provisions ofthis Act. 
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SECTION 3. Child Restraint Safety Training Program. - Not later than six (6) months 
14 . after the passage of this Act, the Secretary shall develop and implement a safety rating program 
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for child restraints to provide practicable, readily understandable, and timely information to 
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parents and caretakers for use in making informed decisions in the purchase of child restraints. 
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SECTION 4. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part thereof is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law of the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or inconsistent 
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with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 6. EffectiVity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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