* 
i 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
SENATE 
S.B. NO. 
Introduced by Senator JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Economic recovery and accelerated development require support by a national 
network of roads and an orderly and well-managed traffic and engineering system. 
We need a national road system, which connects and promotes key growth 
areas, urban and rural. There should be an infrastructure, which facilitates the efficient 
flow of raw materials to industry, gives unhampered access of goods and products to 
markets and consumers, and provides overall support to agrarian and urban land 
reforms. 
This proposal for a national program on transport and traffic engineering and 
management seeks to rationalize the design, construction and maintenance of roads, 
bridges, waterways, and all forms of transport of men and economic goods. 
It also provides for a Center, which will be pivotal in the implementation of the 
nation' s program. 
For the accelerated development of our country, approval of this measure is 
urgent. 
J 
Senator 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF TH 
) 
First Regular Session 
1 1 
2:) ,JO 315 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
SENATE 
S.B. NO. 
Introduced by Senator JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
INSTITUTING THE NATIONAL TRAFFIC ENGINEERING CENTER, DEFINING ITS 
F U N CTI ON S, P ROVl D I NG AP PROP RlATl ON S TH E RE FOR 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assem bled: 
SECTION 1: Title. - This Act shall be known and cited as the "Charter of the 
National Traffic Engineering Center". 
SECTION 2. Declarafion ofPolicy. - It is hereby declared to be the policy of the 
State that the protection of life and property and the promotion of the economic well- 
being of the people shall be pursued by providing them the necessary facilities for safe 
and convenient travel from their residences to their places of work and for the efficient 
delivery of their products from farms and factories to the markets. 
SECTION 3. Creation of fhe National Traffic and Engineering Cenfer. - The 
Project Management Office for Traffic Engineering and Management of the Department 
of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is hereby converted into the National Traffic 
Engineering Center (NTEC) hereinafter referred to as the "Center" that shall attend 
solely to traffic engineering and management needs nationwide. 
The Center shall be attached to the Department of Public Works and Highways 
(DPWH) under the direct supervision of the Secretary of Public Works and Highways. 
The Secretary of Public Works and Highways shall approve the policies, programs, 
projects, rules and regulations, submitted by the Executive Director of the Center to 
carry out the purpose of this Act. 
SECTION. 4. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, unless the context 
indicates otherwise, the terms used herein shall mean as follows: 


a) Traffic Engineering Facilities and Equipment includes traffic control systems, 
geometric improvement of intersections, sidewalks and median islands, road signs and 
pavement markings, pedestrian overpasses, waiting sheds and other traffic safety 
devices. 
b) Traffic Control System includes traffic signal, local signal controllers, vehicle 
detectors, control center and related facilities and equipment such as close circuit 
television cameras and signal lanterns. 
c) Traffic Control Signal includes any device using a word or words, symbol or 
symbols, a color light or lights or any combination thereof operated mechanically, 
electrically or manually. 
d) Local Signal Controllers mean any equipment controlling the signal switching 
time for signal lanterns from green to orange to red color based and the command sent 
by the computer at the control center. 
e) Vehicle Detectors includes such equipment installed near signalized 
intersection which measures the number and speed of vehicles and the data to the 
computer at the control center. 
f) Control Center is the place which houses the computer room, computer room 
for traffic control signals and radio communications equipment. 
g) Geometric Improvements of Intersections, Sidewalks and Median Islands 
means the modification of the design of intersections, sidewalks and median islands to 
allow for safer, faster and efficient traffic flow. 
h) Intersection means place where two (2) or more roads intersect, join, meet or 
merge, and shall include the area where vehicles travelling on different directions may 
co I I i de. 
i) Median Islands are also called Center Islands include any physical 
structure other than lines marked at the center of a roadway that separates opposite 
traffic flow. 
j) Sidewalks mean that portion of a roadway assigned for use by pedestrians. 
k) Curbs and Gutters mean any physical structure that segregates the road from 
I) Road Sign includes regulatory road signs, special instruction signs, warning 
m) Pavement Markings include the longitudinal lines, transverse lines, object 
n) Pedestrian Barrier means any physical structure that will control pedestrian 
0) Pedestrian Lanes are areas where pedestrians may cross roadways indicated 
the sidewalk and its accompanying structure where water flows toward a canal. 
signs, guide signs or informative signs for road works and special purposes. 
markings, reflector markings and other lines and markings on the roadway. 
movement. 


/ 
by bars painted parallel to the road centerline or a pair of solid white lines across a road 
surface. 
p) Pedestrian Overpass includes any physical structure used by pedestrians to 
cross over roadways without disrupting traffic flow at any time. 
q) Waiting Sheds includes any physical infrastructure by the roadway, which 
r) Traffic Island means any physical structure other than the lines marked on a 
s) Signal Lanterns mean traffic signal lights. 
provides pedestrian while waiting for transport. 
roadway made at or near intersections. 
SECTION 5. Relationship wifh the Local Government Units. - The Center 
shall provide technical assistance to local governments units on matters pertaining to 
traffic engineering, including but not limited to, providing traffic control devices and 
related facilities and equipment available at the Center and assistance in the 
preparation of related documentslsupporting papers and studies, preparation and/or 
implementation of traffic management plans, conduct of traffic studies, and 
coordinative/monitoring support on traffic engineering and management. The Center 
shall likewise provide the necessary technical training to local government personnel in 
the operation and maintenance of traffic control system and related facilities and 
equipment with the end in view of transferring the management of the technologies and 
equipment to local government units. 
SECTION 6. Purposes and Objectives. - The Center shall have the following 
purposes: 
a. To integrate and coordinate the planning, development, construction, 
operation and maintenance of traffic engineering and management needs and 
requirements nationwide. 
b. To promote the easy flow of road traffic thereby increasing efficient safety in 
the transport of men and goods and the development of small and medium-scale small 
industries nationwide. 
SECTION 7. Duties and Responsibilifies. -The Center shall have the following 
duties and responsibilities: 
regional transport; 
2. 
Provide technical the planning, services for the planning, design, 
installation, and construction, operation and maintenance of traffic engineering and 
management facilities and equipment nationwide; 
1, Assist in the development and implementation of policies for urban and 


, 
3. Develop and of implement a national code of standards,specifications, and 
operational, guidelines for the design, installation, operation and maintenance of traffic 
control systems; 
to local traffic problems; 
proposed by any government agency or local government units to ensure 
uniformity standardization; 
4. Assist other agencies including the local government units, in finding solutions 
5. Review and approve all design plans for traffic engineering and management 
6. Coordinate with other agencies and authorities created for special metropolitan 
political subdivisions tasked with transport and traffic engineering management 
in the development of comprehensive plans and strategies for urban traffic and 
transport; 
public on the important use of the various traffic control facilities and other 
aspects of road safety and courtesy; 
7. Formulate plans and programs to train and educate the motorists and the 
8. Conduct researches, studies on and seminars traffic engineering and 
management with emphasis on accident prevention and efficient traffic control; 
and 
9. Receive donations from local and foreign institutions or agencies, for the 
purpose of carrying out its objectives. 
SECTION 8. Executive Director. - The Center shall be headed by an Executive 
Director who shall be appointed by the President upon recommendation of the 
Secretary of Public Works' and Highways. The Executive Director shall have a rank 
equivalent to an Executive Director IV position. The Executive Director shall be assisted 
by two (2) Deputy Executive Directors; one (I) 
Deputy Executive Director for project 
planning, design and implementation and one (1 ) for administration, operations and 
maintenance of traffic control system. The Deputy Executive Directors shall have the 
rank equivalent to Deputy Executive Director IV to be appointed by the Secretary of 
Public Works and Highways. 
SECTION 9. General Powers and. Dufies of the Executive Director and the 
Deputy Executive Directors. - 
A. The general powers and duties of the Executive Director shall be as follows: 
I 
) To implement the policies, programs, projects, guidelines, procedures, 
rules and regulations promulgated, prescribed, issued or adopted by the center for 
urban regional transport; 
2) 
To manage the day-to-day affairs of the Center, 
and to ensure the 


operational efficiency of the traffic engineering and management facilities and 
equipment nationwide; 
3) Head the technical, consultative and management staff of the Center; 
4) To undertake the conduct of traffic survey, planning and design of traffic 
Engineering and management measures and services, the of conduct of 
transportation and traffic-related research and studies and the preparation and updating 
of the Code of Traffic Management and Operations; 
5) To determine the organization of the Center and create such functional 
units therein as deemed necessary in the proper and efficient implementation of the 
functions and purposes of the Center, including recommending the appointment of 
officials and employees, it being understood that the security of tenure of these workers 
shall be respected consistent to existing laws; and 
6) Perform other related functions that may be assigned by the Secretary of 
Public Works and Highways or as may be necessary and the convenient for attainment 
of the objectives of the Center. 
B. 
The Deputy Executive Directors of the Center shall have the following 
I) 
To assist the Executive Director in implementing, enforcing, and applying 
general powers, functions and duties: 
the policies, programs, projects, guidelines, procedures, rules and regulations 
promulgated, prescribed, issued, or adopted by the Center; 
2) 
and duties; and 
To assist the Executive Director in the performance of his other functions 
3) To perform such other duties as the Executive Director may assign from 
time to time. 
SECTION. 10. Appropriations. - - The amount necessary to carry out the 
provisions of this Act shall be taken from the existing project funds and other 
appropriations of abolished Project Management Office for Traffic Engineering and 
Management as authorized in the current General Appropriations Act. Thereafter, funds 
for the Center Shall be provided in the annual Appropriations, Act. 
SECTION I I. 
Transitory Provisions. - The Project Management Office for the 
Traffic Engineering and Management of the Department of Public Works and Highways 
shall, upon approval of this Act, be abolished and its existing functions and such 
appropriations, funds, records, equipment, facilities, other assets and personnel shall be 
transferred to the Center. 
SECTION. 12. Separability Clause. If any portion or provision of this Act or the 


application of such provision to any person or circumstance is declared unconstitutional, 
the remainder of the Act or the applications of such provisions to other persons or 
circumstances shall not be affected by such declaration. 
SECTION 13- Repea/ing Clause. - All acts, charters, executive orders, 
administrative orders, rules regulations, or parts thereof, in conflict with this Act are 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 14. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect immediately upon approval. 
Approved ,