Fifteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO._2933

Introduced by Honorable Godofredo V. Arquiza

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to commend our Filipino Drivers, for being obedient
to traffic rules and regulations, for having driven their vehicles without any
traffic violation for the past three (3) years. This will promote safe driving
behavior and enforce road rules which will benefit the entire community
and make roads safer for all road users, including cyclists and pedestrians.

Section 9, Article II of the 1987 Constitution states:

“The State shall promote a just and dynamic social order
that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation
and free the people from poverty through policies that provide
adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising
standard of living, and an improved quality of life for all.”

For many years, the nation has always been concerned with several
road accidents due to reckless driving. These accidents have been
happening on a daily basis primarily due to reckless drivers and as a
consequence many innocent passengers and pedestrians have lost their
lives.

With more than 92 million people, the Philippines is the world's 12%
most populous country and it faces this growing problem on road
accidents. In 2008, the number of reported road accidents rose by 28.3
percent reaching 14,794 from 11,532 in 2007, according to official
statistics. Unreported road accidents were estimated to be about nine times
higher than what was actually recorded, as reported by the Balita, a
national Philippines news outlet.


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Deaths due to road crashes reached 624 in the first half of 2009, and
went up by 8.7 percent from 573 a year ago, according to the Philippines
Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC). This upward
trend will continue unless some action is taken by the government to
reduce this.

It is in this regard that the government should consider a Reward
Scheme for good drivers so that drivers who obey the law are given some
incentive for showing respect and obedience to traffic rules and
regulations. Ifa tiny percentage of the fines from reckless drivers could be
redistributed to drivers who stay within the limits, this could become a
potent weapon in the war against reckless motorists.

It is about time that we encourage our drivers to drive cautiously and
carefully and exercise utmost diligence on the road. Good motorists should
be rewarded for keeping the speed limit and following traffic rules.

Motorists would be much more likely to adhere to speed limits and
this would be a timely innovation for us to start rewarding good citizens.

Hence, those who have not committed safety related traffic offenses
for a three (3) year period prior to the renewal of their Driver's license will
be given a fifty (50%) per cent discount on the cost of renewing their
license.

Drivers will be informed that they have a discounted license renewal
through a letter of “Congratulations” from the LTO informing them of their
license renewal notice. If eligible, the license renewal notice amount will
already reflect the reward discount.

In view of the foregoing considerations, approval of this bill is
earnestly sought.

GODO! ~ARQUIZA
Senior Citizen Party List


Fifteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO.

2933

Introduced by Honorable Godofredo V. Arquiza

A REWARD SCHEME FOR DESERVING
FILIPINO DRIVERS

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “THE REWARD
SCHEME OF 2010.”

Section 2. Declaration of Policy.- Section 9, Article Il of the 1987
Constitution states:

“The State shall promote a just and dynamic social order
that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation
and free the people from poverty through policies that provide
adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising
standard of living, and an improved quality of life for all.”

Consonant with these constitutional principle, the
following are the Declared Policies of this Act:

(a) To take cognizance of the importance and achievements of
Filipino drivers who have not committed any traffic violation
for the past three (3) years; and

b) To recognize the vital role of the Land Transportation Office
(LTO) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority
(MMDA) to actively seek their partnership so it can give its full
support to achieve this purpose;

In accordance with these policies, this Act aims to:


(1) adopt measures whereby the Land Transportation Office
(LTO) shall give due commendation to Filipino drivers who
have not committed any violation for the past three (3) years,
which shall be clearly recorded in the LTO’s record ; and

(2) establish a policy or program towards the achievement of
this objective.

Section 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, these terms are
defined as follows:

(a) “Commendation” is the act of commending drivers; to
mention as worthy of regard and praise for not having
committed any traffic violation for the past three (3) years;

(b) “Land Transportation Office” shall mean the Transportation
Office in the Philippines that provide transportation laws, rules
and regulations;

(c) “Metropolitan Manila Development Authority” shall mean
an agency of the Republic of the Philippines created, embracing
the cities of Manila, Quezon City, Caloocan, Pasay,
Mandaluyong, Makati, Pasig, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Las Pifias,
Parafiaque, Valenzuela, Malabon, Taguig, Navotas and San Juan
and the municipality of Pateros which comprise Metropolitan
Manila or the National Capital Region constituted into a special
development and administrative region subject to direct
supervision of the President of the Philippines which performs
planning, monitoring and coordinative functions, and in the
process exercise regulatory and supervisory authority over the
delivery of metro-wide services within Metro Manila without
diminution of the autonomy of the local government units
concerning purely local matters.

(d) “Eligibility period” shall mean the three (3) year period
prior to the renewal of a driver’s license which is calculated
from the expiry date of the driver's license.

Section 4. Who may be entitled to the Reward Scheme - Those
registered ino drivers, who have not committed any traffic violation
during the eligibility period.

Section 5. Manner of Implementing the Reward Scheme. - Every
Filipino driver, who has not committed any traffic violation during the


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eligibility period will be given a fifty (50%) per cent discount on the cost of
renewing his license by the LTO.

Section 6. Who are ineligible in the Reward Scheme - The following are
the main road safety offense categories that result in a license holder being
ineligible under the Scheme:

Drunk Driving and Drug Driving;

Speed Offenses ;

Seat Belt/Occupant and Restraint Offenses;
Unlicensed, Unauthorized and Disqualified Driving;
Traffic Offenses Causing Death, Damage or Injury ;
Hit and Run and Accident Related Offenses;
Dangerous and Reckless Driving Offenses;

Failure to obey traffic signs/signals;

Breach of Novice Driver/Rider Conditions;
Unregistered vehicle use; and

Other related offenses as prescribed by the LTO, existing
laws and City Ordinance/s.

Section 7. Duty of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) - The LTO is
directed to issue the necessary rules and regulations to implement the
provisions of this Act and monitor and record those Filipino drivers who
have not committed any traffic violation for the past three (3) years as well
as those who have committed those offenses mentioned in Section 6
hereof. It shall inform Filipino drivers that they have a discounted license
renewal through a letter of “Congratulations” included with the license
renewal notice which will already reflect the reward discount.

Section 8. Duty of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority
(MMDA) - The MMDA is directed to report all drivers who have committed
traffic violations within their jurisdiction to the LTO within seventy-two
(72) hours from the time the driver was caught for the traffic offense, to
enable the LTO to have a complete record of those violators who will be
considered ineligible under the Reward Scheme.

Section 9. Government Assistance. -

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Metropolitan Manila
Development Authority (MMDA) shall cooperate and work hand in hand to
implement and institute policies and programs in pursuance of the
objectives of this Act.


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The Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Metropolitan Manila
Development Authority (MMDA) shall have the following functions:

(a) To plan, implement and monitor yearly programs in
pursuance of the objectives of this Act; and

(b) To serve as a General Information and Liaison Center and
monitor compliance of the provisions of this Act ;

Section 10. LTO Responsibility. - It shall be the responsibility of the Land
Transportation Office (LTO) and the Metropolitan Manila Development
Authority (MMDA) to prominently display posters, stickers, and other
notices that will generate public awareness of this Act and ensure that the
provisions of this Act are implemented to its fullest.

Section 11. Partnership of the National and Local Government Units. -
The national government and local government units shall undertake to
ensure the implementation of this Act in their respective territorial
jurisdictions.

Section 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Land
Transportation Office (LTO) within ninety (90) days from the approval of
this Act, shall promulgate the implementing, rules and regulations for the
effective implementation of the provisions of this Act in consultation and
coordination with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority
(MMpA).

Section 13. Appropriation. - The necessary appropriation for the
operation of this Act shall be appropriated and approved by the Land
Transportation Office. The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of
this Act upon its effectivity shall be charged out of the funds of the Office of
the President. Thereafter, any such sum as shall be needed for the regular
implementation of this Act shall be included in subsequent General
Appropriations Act following its enactment into law.

Section 14. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect within fifteen (15) days
after publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers
of general circulation.

Approved,

Seniof Citizen Party List