ceecree
RECEIVED

Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon Citp, Meteo Manila

Eighteenth Congress
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 8235

Introduced by Representatives EDGAR MARY S. SARMIENTO
JORGE “PATROL” BUSTOS and PRESLEY C. DE JESUS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to institute standards governing the use of emergency
vehicles to educate motorists and the public on safe road environment in times

of emergencies, calamities and disasters.

During emergencies it is important for emergency vehicles and first
responders to immediately reach the scene of a potential life and death situation.
However, oftentimes, due to road limitations and severe traffic conditions
coupled with the public’s unfamiliarity with rules governing emergency
vehicles, untoward consequences may happen. This proposed measure seeks to
rectify this situation by specifying the duties and obligations of motorists in the

presence of emergency vehicles responding to an emergency.

Likewise, the bill seeks to implement the use of uniform red and blue
warning lights by the law enforcement, fire truck, ambulance and other
emergency vehicle to alert the motorists of the presence of an emergency
vehicle and yield to it for its safe and speedy passage. This color coding scheme
provides the best visibility during low and normal light conditions and even

during adverse weather conditions. The standardization of the use of emergency



lights will build familiarity and awareness among motorists on the existence of
an urgent and emergency situation, and learn to give way to emergency vehicles

to ensure the prevention of any potential danger to life and property,

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

CONG. EDGAR . SARMIENTO

CONG. JOR’ “PATROL” BUSTOS

CONG. PRESLEY C. DE JESUS


COV auRHWYnNe

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Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Meteo Manila

Eighteenth Congress
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No,__ 8235

Introduced by Representatives EDGAR MARY S. SARMIENTO, JORGE
“PATROL” BUSTOS and PRESLEY C. DE JESUS

AN ACT
INSTITUTING STANDARDS FOR THE USE OF EMERGENCY
VEHICLES AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION
THEREOF

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Emergency
Vehicles Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to maintain
peace and order, protect life, liberty, and Property, and to promote the general
welfare. Toward this end, the State shall ensure a safe environment for all
motorists, pedestrians, emergency vehicles, and_ first responders during
emergencies, calamities and disasters.

SEC. 3. Emergency Color Codes. ~ Emergency vehicles must observe the
following color codes in their flashing lights or blinkers:

(a) Colors red and blue:


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qd) For marked motor vehicles of the Philippine National Police,
National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Jail Management and
Penology, National Bureau of Investigation and similar law enforcement
agencies;
(2) For ambulances or motor vehicles operated by an emergency
medical service organization;
(3) For fire trucks or motor vehicles used by the fire department
or any of its officer responding to a fire or emergency; and
(4) For marked motor vehicles of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines or any of its major services.
(b) Color amber:
qd) For tow trucks, utility vehicles, heavy equipment, and
machinery used during calamities or natural disasters; and
(2) For armored vehicles of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
For purposes of this Act, an emergency vehicle is any vehicle with
activated flashing lights and sirens.
SEC. 4. Accessories of Emergency Vehicles. — All emergency vehicles
must have the following accessories:
(a) Sirens, bells, horns, whistles, or similar gadgets that make
prolonged loud or startling sounds;
(b) Emergency red light blinkers, dome lights, flashing lights, and

installed in front, rear, and inside of the vehicle; and


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(c) Other similar signaling or flashing devices including headlights,
interior lights, and tail lights or break lights.

SEC. 5. Passing Lane. ~ All emergency vehicles are given priority along
passing lane in all roads in the country. The following are designated as passing
lanes:

(a) In two-way roads with center island - the lane nearest to the center
island;

(b) In two-way roads with no center island - the lane nearest to the
center line; and

(c) Tn one-way roads - the left most lane.

Upon seeing the blinkers, headlights, or hazard lights of the emergency
vehicles, or upon hearing their emergency sirens, horns, or bells, all motorists
shall immediately give way to the emergency vehicles by veering to the right
and away from the passing lanes, come to a full stop, and resume driving after
the emergency vehicles have passed.

SEC. 6. Duties of Driver of Emergency Vehicle. — A driver of an
emergency vehicle must be a holder of a professional driver’s license issued by
the Land Transportation Office. The emergency vehicle driver must at all times
exercise due care and diligence while driving the vehicle to ensure the safety of
everyone using the road.

SEC. 7. Mandatory Preventive Maintenance. — To ensure and maintain

roadworthiness, all emergency vehicles must undergo periodic preventive

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maintenance in accordance with the prescribed schedule and instruction
contained in the vehicle manufacturer’s manual.

SEC. 8. Mandatory Registration of Emergency Vehicles. — All
emergency vehicles shall be registered with the Land Transportation Office
(LTO). The LTO shall keep a separate registry of all registered emergency
vehicles in the country.

SEC. 9. Installation of Dashboard Camera or Similar Device. — All
emergency vehicles must be installed with a dashboard camera or similar device
to record the driving conditions on the road.

SEC. 10. Penalties. — The following penalties shall be imposed upon any
person found guilty of violating the provisions of this Act:

(a) Any person who knowingly or willfully hinders, impedes,
obstructs, blocks, or interferes with any emergency vehicle responding to an
emergency shall suffer the penalty of a fine of not less than Ten thousand pesos
(P10,000.00) but not more than Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00);

(b) Any person who knowingly and willfully installs the accessories of
emergency vehicles enumerated in Section 4 of this Act to a vehicle not
classified and registered as such, shall be imposed the following penalties:

qd) First offense. — Immediate confiscation and forfeiture of the

device or gadget mounted or installed on the person’s motor vehicle and a

fine of not less Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) but not more than Twenty

thousand pesos (P20,000.00);


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(2) Second offense. — Immediate confiscation and forfeiture of
the device or gadget mounted or installed on the Pperson’s motor vehicle
and a fine of not less than Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00) but not
more than Thirty thousand pesos (P30,000.00);

(3) Third offense. — Immediate confiscation and forfeiture of the
device or gadget, imprisonment of not less than one (1) month and a fine of
not less than Thirty thousand pesos (P30,000.00) but not more than Forty
thousand pesos (P40,000.00).

The owner of the vehicle who knowingly and willfully allows and agrees
to the installation of the accessories shall suffer the same penalties imposed.

(©) Any motorist who knowingly and willfully violates the provision
on passing lane under Section 5 of this Act shall be punished by a fine of not
less than Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) but not more than Twenty thousand
pesos (P20,000.00).

SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within three (3)
months after the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall, in
consultation with the Executive Director of the Land Transportation Office,
issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this
Act.

SEC. 12. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules and
regulations, other issuances, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of

this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.


1 SEC. 13. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

2 publication in the Official Gazette or ina newspaper of general circulation.

3 Approved,