FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
c; 
rcD 11 
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SENATE 
%No. 2061 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 11, Section 13 provides: 
The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building 
and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, 
and social well-being. It shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and 
nationalism, and encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs. 
All over the world, thousands of children die each year in motor vehicle 
accidents, the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages 14 
and younger. Cunmt law requires children younger than six years of age to be properly 
secured in a child passenger safety seat system during the operation of a motor vehicle 
and not to be seated in the front passenger's seat. 
This bill increases the age and introduces a height requirement relating to the 
restraint of children during the operation of a motor vehicle to younger than eight years 
of age, unless the child is taller than four feet and nine inches in height. 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
8 If8 I 1  
(
8
 
First Regular Session 
1 
S. No. 
E N26&l 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8750, ALSO KNOWN AS THE SEAT BELTS 
USE ACT OF 1999, SECTIONS THREE AND FIVE 
Be it enacted by the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 5 of Republic Act No. 8750, as amended, otherwise known 
as the Seat Belts Use Act of 1999, is hereby amended to read as follows: 
“SECTION 5 .  [Children Prohibited to Sit in Front Seat] Special Protection for Child 
Passengers. - Infants and/or children with ages [six (6)] EIGHT (8) years and below 
shall be prohibited to sit in the front seat of any running motor vehicle UNLESS THE 
CHILD IS TALLER THAN FOUR FEET NINE EVCHES. THE USE OF SPECIAL 
CAR SEATS OR CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS FOR INFANTS/ CHILDREN LESS 
THAN EIGHT (8) YEARS SHALL BE MANDATORY IF THE CHILD IS NOT 
ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT IN THE BACKSEAT. IN THE CASE OF MOTOR 
VEHICLES WITHOUT BACKROW SEATS, CHILDREN AGES EIGHT (8) YEARS 
AND BELOW MAY BE SEATED IN THE FRONT SEAT, PROVIDED THAT, THE 
VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM THAT IS 
MANUFACTUReD 
AND 
CRAFTED 
IN 
ACCORDANCE 
WITH 
THE 
INTERNATIONALLY ACCEPTABLE INDUSTRY STANDARDS. IN ALL CASES, 
THE PROVISION FOR AND INSTALLATION OF THE CHILD RESTRAINT 
SYSTEM SHALL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE VEHICLE OWNER.” 
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SECTION 2. Section 3 paragraph (h) is hereby added to read as follows: 
“SECTION 3. (h). “CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM’ SHALL REFER TO BEDS 
FOR BABIES, SEATS FOR INFANTS AND SEATS FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN.” 
SECTION 3. Repealing Clause. - Section 5 of Republic Act No. 8750, otherwise 
known as the Seat Belts Use Act of 1999, and all laws, acts, presidential decrees, 
executive orders, administrative orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with or 
contrary to the provisions of this Act are deemed amended, modified or repealed 
accordingly. 
SECTION 4. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
remain valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 5. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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