S(?l1tltl" 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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(t9f1td- t!f !ll[' ~"THbry 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
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"--r-
1012 
S.No. ___ _ 
Introduced by Senator Antonio "SONNY" F. Trillanes IV 
Explanatory Note 
This bill seeks to amend Republic Act No. 8750, otherwise known as the Seatbelts Use Act of 
1999 by requiring all passengers and drivers of school selvicessuch as school buses to use their 
seatbelts. 
Crash test and case study data indicate that seat belts provide improved crash protection and are 
especially beneficial in side-impact and rollover school bus accidents. Seat belts also reduce 
other types of injuries by restraining children who may otherwise be out of their seats. This also 
helps improve passenger behavior and reduce distractions to school bus drivers. In addition, seat 
belts provide another important benefit, namely, educating children as to seat belt use and 
reinforcing seat belt use in motor vehicles. 
Although school services accidents are relatively rare in the country, when they do occur, 
innocent children wind up as casualties, and the whole community is affected. It is therefore 
imperative to promote the safety of our children by providing standards in their public 
transportation. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this measure is earnestly sought. 
ANTONIO "SONNY" F. TRILLANES IV 
Senator 
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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l~ffI;t: llf tile ;;Hl'i'tnrq 
REPUBLIC OF TilE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 
JUL 22 P 2 :17 
SENATE 
S. No. 1012 
Introduced by Senator Antonio "SONNY" F. Trillanes IV 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING THE USE OF SEATBELT DEVICES IN SCHOOL SERVICES, 
AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED 8750, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE SEATBELTS USE ACT OF 1999 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House alRepresentatives olthe Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 8750, otherwise known as the Seatbelts 
2 
Use Act of 1999 is herehy amended to read as follows: 
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SECTION 4. Mandatory Use of Seat Belts. - For their own safety, the driver 
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and front seat passengers of a puhlic or private motor vehicle are required to wear or 
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use their seat belt devices while inside a vehicle of running engine on any road or 
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thoroughfare: Provided, That for private vehicles, except for jeepneys, vans, buses 
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and such other private vehicles as may be determined in the Implementing Rules and 
9 
Regulations (lRR), front and back seat passengers are likewise required to use their 
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seat belt devices at all times. 
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In the case of public motor vehicles, the driver shall be required to 
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immediately inform and require the front· seat passengers upon boarding a vehicle of 
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running engine to wear the prescribed seat belts. Any passenger who refuses to wear 
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seat belts shall not be allowed to continue his/her trip. 
15 
For special public service vehicles [such as school services and other similar 
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vehicles], EXCEPT FOR SCHOOL SERVICES, as may be determined hy the 
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IRR, seat belt devices should be provided and used by hath drivers and front seat 
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passengers as defmed herein and the first row passengers immediately behind the 
2 
driver at all times while inside a vehicle of running engine. 
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Operational motor vehicles, both public and private, which are not equipped with 
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the required seat belt devices, are given one (I) year from the issuance of the IRR 
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by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to retrofit appropriate seat belt devices 
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in their vehicles. 
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SEC 2. Another section is to be added after Section 4 to read as follows: 
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9 
SECTION. 5. SEATBELTS IN SCHOOL SERVICES. -
FOR 
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SCHOOL SERVICES SUCH AS SCHOOL BUSES, SEAT BELT DEVICES 
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SHOULD BE PROVIDED AND USED BY BOTH DRIVERS AND ALL 
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PASSENGERS AT ALL TIMES WHILE INSIDE SUCH VEHICLE OF 
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RUNNING ENGINE. 
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ALL SCHOOL BUSES PURCHASED BY PUBLIC AND PRIVATE 
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SCHOOLS SHALL BE EQUIPPED WITH SEATBELT DEVICES IN 
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COMPLIANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE INDUSTRY STANDARDS. 
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THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL ADOPT RELEVANT 
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PROGRAMS AND RULES: 
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1. REQUIRING THE USE OF SEAT BELT DEVICES BY PUPILS BETWEEN 
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THE AGES OF FOUR AND TWELVE ON SCHOOL SERVICES SUCH AS 
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SCHOOL BUSES; 
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2. PROVIDING APPROPRIATE DISCIPLINE FOR ANY PUPIL WHO FAILS 
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TO COMPLY WITH THIS SECTION AND ANY RULE ADOPTED 
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REGARDING THE USE OF SEAT BELT DEVICES ON SCHOOL 
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SERVICES SUCH AS SCHOOL BUSES; 
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3. 
ENCOURAGING 
PARENTS, 
TEACHERS, 
AND 
COMMUNITIY 
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ASSOCIATIONS 
TO 
PARTICIPATE 
IN 
THE 
EDUCATION 
OF 
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STUDENTS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF USING SEATBEL T DEVICES. 
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SEC. 3. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof 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. 4. Repealing Cla1lse. - Section 4 of Republic Act No. 8750, otherwise 
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known as the Seatbelts Use Act of 1999, and all laws, presidential decrees or issuances, 
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executive orders, letters of instruction, administrative orders, rules or regulations contrary 
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to, or inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed, modified, or 
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amended accordingly. 
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II 
SEC. 5. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
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circulation. 
Approved, 
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