FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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Second Regular Session 
1 
SENATE 
S. No. 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 11, Section 5 provides: 
The maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, liberty, 
and property, and promotion of the general welfare are essential for the 
enjoyment by all the people of the blessings of democracy. 
A High-intensity discharge (HID) lamp is a kind of electrical lamp that makes 
light by means of an electric arc between tungsten electrodes placed inside a translucent 
or transparent fused quartz or fused alumina arc tube. When compared with conventional 
fluorescent and incandescent lamps, HID lamps are shown to have higher luminous 
efficacy since a bigger proportion of their radiation is in visible light as opposed to heat. 
The overall luminous efficacy of HID lamps is also higher, meaning that they produce a 
greater amount of light output per watt of electricity input. 
Since the 1990's, HID lamps have found their way in motor vehicle headlamps. 
This application has met with different responses from the motoring public, who 
appreciate the improved night time visibility from HID headlamps but object to the glare 
they can result to. Studies have demonstrated drivers react faster and more accurately to 
roadway obstacles with good HID headlamps rather than halogen ones. Scientific study 
of headlamp glare has shown that for any given intensity level, the light from HID 
headlamps is 40% more glaring than the light from tungsten-halogen headlamps. 
Internationalized European vehicle regulations require such headlamps to be equipped 
with lens cleaners and an automatic self-levelling system to keep the beams aimed 
correctly regardless of vehicle load and attitude. The arc light source in an HID headlamp 


is fundamentally different in shape, size, orientation and luminosity distribution when 
compared to the filament light source found in tungsten-halogen headlamps. For that 
reason, HID-specific optics are used to collect and distribute the light. HID burners 
cannot effectively or safely be installed in optics designed to take filament bulbs. This 
retrofitting results in improperly-focused beam patterns and excessive glare, and has been 
made illegal in almost all countries. These retrofitted headlamps have been known to 
cause accidents on the road and have generally inconvenienced those who drive at night. 
This bill aims to limit the use of HID headlamps to vehicles with headlamp 
housings originally designed for HID use, and not those designed for 'conventional 
halogen or tungsten types. 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
8 
KJV 10 ’ + 
Second Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
REGULATING THE USE OF HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE 
HEADLAMPS IN MOTOR VEHICLES 
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 “HID Regulation Act o i  
2008.” 
SECTION 2. Definition of terms. -As used in this Act, the term- 
(A) “High Intensity Discharge Headlamp” refers to headlamps that produce light through 
an electric arc that comes from metallic salts that are vaporized within an arc 
chamber; 
(B) “Headlamp housing or optics designed for HID use” refers to a headlamp system that 
consists of a set of type-approved HID headlamps, an automatic headlamp leveling 
device, and a headlamp cleaning system; 
(C) “Office” refers to the Land Transportation Office. 
SECTION 3. Prohibition of the use of retrofitted HID headlamps. - It shall be unlawful 
to use an HID headlamp in a vehicle with headlamp housings or optics not designed for HID use. 
Only vehicles with housings or optics originally designed for HID use can use HID headlamps. 
SECTION 4. Penalties. - The Office is empowered to establish and assess penalties or 
fines against the registered owner of a vehicle for violations of this Act. In no circumstance will 
any penalty or fine exceed P10,OOO.OO. 


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SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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Approved, 
SECTION 6. Eflectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.