THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
S. No. 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR, JR. 
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 
iniiiiinum design standards of school buses for the safety of the student passengers. 
This bill seeks to prescribe regulations to mitigate the effects of vehicular accidents by 
prescribing safety standards for school buses. 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
i 
SENATE 
S. No. 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR, JR. 
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 
assem bled. 
SECTION I. Short Title. This Act may be cited as the "School Bus Safety Act." 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby the policy of the State to promote safety in 
order to protect passengers of school buses fiom injury in case of accidents. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms - For purposes of this Act the term: 
(1) "Bus1' means a motor vehicle with motive power, except a trailer, designed for carrying more 
than 10 persons. 
(2) "School Bus" ineans a bus that is used for purposes that include carrying students to and fiom 
public or private school or school-related events on a regular basis, but does not include a transit 
bus or a scliool, chartered bus. 
(3) "Scliool-Chartered Bus" means a bus that is operated under a short-term contract with the 
school authorities who have acquired exclusive use of the bus at a fixed charge in order to 
provide transportation for a group of pupils to a special school-related event. 
(4) "Secretary" means the Secretary of Transportation and Communications. 
(5) "Seats Belts" refer to the combined lap belt and shoulder strap that fasten a rider to moving 
vehicle and prevent him froin being thrown out or against the interior of the vehicle during 
sudden stops. 
SECTION. 4. Proficiency Standards For School Bus Drivers. 


(a) Requirement- Not later than one (1) year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall prescribe proficiency standards for school bus drivers who are required to possess a 
professional license to operate a school bus. 
(b) Demonstration of Proficiency- Upon the prescription of standards under subsection (a), each 
school bus driver referred to in subsection (a) shall demonstrate (at such interval as the Secretary 
shall prescribe) to the employer of the driver, the school, the licensing agency, or other person or 
agency responsible for regulating school bus drivers the proficiency of such driver in operating a 
school bus in accordance with the proficiency standards prescribed under subsection (a) or the 
proficiency standards established by the State concerned, as the case may be. 
SECTION 5 .  Seat Belts in School Buses. 
(A) Requirement for Installation- Not later than one (1) year after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe regulations requiring driver seat belts and passenger seat 
belts (including lap safety belts or other child safety devices meeting applicable government 
safety standards) for each seating position in any newly manufactured school bus. Owners of 
school buses which are not currently equipped with seat belts shall be given a period of six (6) 
months fi-om the publication of the regulations by the Secretary to install the necessary seat belts 
in their school buses. 
(B) Promotion of Seat Belt Usage - 
( 1 ) In General- The Secretary, in consultation with appropriate safety organizations and parent- 
teacher organizations, shall conduct a program to promote and encourage the use of seat belts in 
school buses. 
(2) Elements of Program- In conducting the program required under this subsection, the 
Secretary shall 
(A) Encourage the local governments to monitor the mandatory usage of seat belts in school 
buses ; 
(B) Develop and disseminate educational materials on the importance of using seat belts to 
passengers and drivers of school buses; and 
(C) Recognize in an appropriate manner school that achieve a high level of seat belt usage by 
passengers and drivers of school buses. 
SECTION 6. Determination Of Practicability And Feasibility Of Certain Safety and Access 
Requirements for School Buses. 


(a) Coniinencernent of Rulemalting Process- Immediately upon the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary shall begin a rulemalting process to determine the feasibility and practicability of the 
following: 
(1) A requirement for a decrease in the flammability of the materials used in the construction of 
the interiors of school buses. 
(b) Final Rule- Not later than 1 year after such date, the Secretary shall promulgate a final rule 
providing for any requirement or standard referred to in paragraph (1) of subsection (a) that the 
Secretary determines to be feasible and- practicable. 
SECTION 7. Registration. - No school bus shall be allowed to acquire, maintain and renew 
registration unless it is equipped with the necessary seat belts. 
SECTION 8. Implementing Authority. - The Secretary shall be primarily responsible for the 
enforceinent of the provisions of this Act. 
The Secretary may provide for a reasonable period for public notice and comment consistent with 
ensuring expeditious but full implementation. of the prescribed safety requirement of this Act. 
SECTION. 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision, or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
SECTION IO. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, 
letter of instruction, adiniiiistrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with, the 
provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 1 1. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (1 5 )  days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved.