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SEVENTEENTH CONGRSS,
15 Regular Session
22

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Congressman Alfredo D. Vargas Ill

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Road accidents are one of the leading causes of deaths in the Philippines. According
to the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group, the number of road accidents in the
country is going up every year due to “human errors and lack of road discipline.”

One critical factor that leads to road accidents is the lack of proper road signs. In the
Philippines, in particular, these are either stolen or vandalized. According to the
Department of Public Works and Highways, a total of 42,558 road signs have already been
stolen and vandalized in 2013. The reported vandalized road signs can still be seen in
various areas in Metro Manila and are rendered almost useless.

The State values life and so shall promote road safety to prevent accidents. This bill
seeks to impose stricter penalties for stealing or vandalizing road signs. Through this, we
will be able to help prevent people from stealing or damaging road signs and ensure that
these road signs serve their purpose—to safeguard Filipino drivers and pedestrians.

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

(LFREDO D. VARGAS III


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
1° Regular Session

4
HOUSE BILL NO. 1822

Introduced by Congressman Alfredo D. Vargas Ill

AN ACT
IMPOSING STIFFER PENALTIES FOR THE STEALING OR VANDALIZING OF
GOVERNMENT ROAD SIGNS AND OTHER RISK REDUCTION DEVICES, ACCESSORIES
AND OTHER FACILITIES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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 “Stealing and Vandalism of
‘Traffic Signs Act of 2016."

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared as the policy of the State to
Protect the people from damage to property and loss of lives by improving conditions of
roads and making vehicular traffic as safe as possible by providing effective driver
information through signs and accident-prevention devices. In pursuit of this, the State has
mandated concerned government agencies and instrumentalities to install in conspicuous
and appropriate places road signs and devices to warn drivers of risks and dangers on the
road.

SEC. 3. Theft and damage of traffic signs and road safety devices. - It shall be unlawful
to dismantle, remove, transfer, and take into possession the road warming devices installed
by national and local governments or non-government organizations for the purpose of
warning motorists of dangers along the road.

SEC. 4. Traffic signs and accident warning devices and instruments. - For the purpose
of this Act, “traffic signs and accident warning devices and instruments” shall mean road or
traffic signs exemplified by signs of “stop”, “yield”, “slippery when wet’, signs of zigzagging
sections of roads, railings, and similar devices. Man-hole covers shall also be included as
Part of the accident-prevention devices warning the public to avert, or prevent the loss and

properties covered under this Act.

The Department of Public Works and Highways shall provide a list of all traffic signs
and accident reduction/prevention devices and instruments. The list shall be updated as
the need arises.


SEC. 5. Punishable actions under this Act. - The following actions are punishable
under this Act:

(A)Mere possession without authority of any devices or instrument or piece of
equipment listed under Section 4 of this Act or accessories thereof;

(B) Selling or buying of stolen traffic signs and warning devices listed under Section
4 of this Act or any accessories thereof.

(©) Vandalizing or damaging of road signs and warning devices under Section 4 of
this Act or any accessories thereof.

SEC. 6. Penalties. - The following penalties shall apply to violations under this Act:

(A)Stealing of or possessing road signs and warming devices including man-hole
covers and their accessories. - The penalty of Twelve (12) to Fifteen (15) years of
imprisonment or a fine ranging from Two Hundred Thousand Pesos
(Php200,000.00) to Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php500,000.00) or both, at
the discretion of the court, shall be imposed on any person found guilty of
stealing or in possession of road signs and warning devices including man-hole
covers as defined in Section 4 of this Act;

(B) Damaging/vandalizing or destroying road signs and warning devices including
‘man-hole covers and their accessories. - The penalty of Six (6) to Ten (10) years
of imprisonment or a fine ranging from One Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 100,
000.00) to One Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php150, 000.00) or both, at the
discretion of the court, shall be imposed on any person found guilty of
damaging/vandalizing or destroying road signs and warning devices and their
accessories including man-hole covers as defined in Section 4 of this Act.

(©) Selling or buying of road signs and warning devices including man-hole and their
accessories. - The penalty of selling or buying disaster warning and risk
reduction instruments and their accessories as defined in Section 4 of this Act
shall be similar to those under paragraph (A) of the same Section of this Act; and

(D) Government employees as accomplice in the violation of provisions of this Act. ~
Government employees found guilty of this Act either as principal or as an
accomplice shall be penalized according to the same Section of this Act. In
addition, such government employee shall forfeit all his/her retirement benefits
and shall be barred from any employment within the government service.

SEC. 7. Incentives. - Incentives shall be provided to a person or persons who will
provide information leading to the apprehension of violators of this Act. The nature and


amount of incentives shall be provided for in the implementing rules and regulations of this
Act.

SEC. 8. Non-applicability of Articles 308, 309, 310 and 311 of the Revised Penal Code. ~
Articles 308, 309, 310 and 311 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended, shall not be
applicable to cases contemplated or enumerated in this Act. For theft cases, the provisions
in this Act shall apply.

SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Public Works and
Highways shall issue within One Hundred Eighty (180) days from the date of the approval
of this Act, the implementing rules and regulations

SEC. 10. Separability Clause. - Any portion or provision of this Act, which may be
declared unconstitutional or invalid shall not have the effect of nullifying other portions or
provisions hereof,

SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, ordinances, rules and regulations, and
other issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent of this Act, are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

SEC 12. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect immediately after its
publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,