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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
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SENATE
Senate Bill No. 312
of tijf
*22 JUL12 AlO :01
RECEIVED Bi‘:
Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubirl
AN ACT MANDATING SHIPOWNERS, SHIP CREW, AND CONCERNED 
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO PROVIDE FOR AND ENSURE THE SAFETY OF 
PASSENGERS AT SEA, PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS THEOREOF,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Considering the archipelagic composition of the Philippines with over 7,000 
islands surrounded by water, the Philippines is a country with bustling ports and a 
thriving shipping industry. The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) hit peak revenue in 2017 
of P15.36 billion, growing by 7.24% from 2016. In addition, passenger traffic at ports 
expanded by 4.57% in 2017. This growth is driven by reliance on sea-travel using Ro- 
Ro vessels, fast crafts, and motorized bancas for domestic inter-island travel. However, 
there is a need to enhance the safety equipment and protocols utilized in sea 
transportation. There has been an increase of incidents at sea, involving both 
commercial vessels, yet safety measures imposed still prove to be inadequate. This 
massive sea movement translates to a bulk of the country's trade and industry. With the 
growth of the Philippines as a developing economy, the hectic port activity will only 
keep getting more substantial.
This bill seeks to assign the Philippine Coast Guard, as well as the Maritime 
Industry Authority, as the implementing body to monitor commercial vessels that 
execute trade and serve as a means of transportation for the general public. This bill 
requires that vessels covered under this act will provide standard safety features to 
passengers regarding the safety protocols of the vessel. Vessels covered will also be 
required to have functional and quality safety equipment and emergency features for 
the safety of those on board the ship.
To encourage the continuous abidance with the minimum safety standards set in 
place, this bill seeks to penalize companies that fail to comply with stipulated rules with 
a fine of PHP 50,000 - PHP 200,000, depending on the offense and the number of times 
the specific party has been called out. This bill also emphasized that offenders repeating 
the violation the third time around will be punishable by imprisonment.
In a country with thousands of sea travelers daily, it is crucial that the Philippines


hold companies to a high standard in ensuring the safety of transportation by water. 
This will ensure the boosting of businesses that execute commerce by sea through the 
improvement of transport infrastructure required.
For these reasons, enactment of this Bill is earnestly sought.
GUEL F. ZUBIRI


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
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of tf}t {S'l.’frcSari
‘22 JUL 12 A10 :01
SENATE
Senate Bill NoS12
nix:'-.
Introduced by SENATOR JUAN MIGUEL F. ZUBIRI
AN ACT MANDATING SHIPOWNERS, SHIP CREW, AND CONCERNED 
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO PROVIDE FOR AND ENSURE THE SAFETY OF 
PASSENGERS AT SEA, PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of the Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Maritime
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Passenger Safety Act."
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the
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State to:
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a. Enhance and ensure the safety and quality of passenger-transport
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services in the country through the provision on board the ship of adequate
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safety equipment, strict observance by ship owners, ship crew, and passengers
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of minimum safety measures and standards, and the provision of qualified and
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competent crew personnel to man and operate the vessels;
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b. Provide for the effective supervision and regulation of operations of all
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water transport utilities in the country, particularly those engaged in the
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commercial carriage of passengers by sea, through the rationalization of
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functions and responsibilities of various government agencies involved in the
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enforcement of maritime safety laws; and
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c. Provide tne basis for the criminal liability of shipowners and crew
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members of ships for any injuries suffered by, or loss of lives of their passengers
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resulting from their malicious or culpable negligence in the course of
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performance of their contracts of carriage with such passengers.


SEC. 3. Scope. - The provision of this Act shall apply to:
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a. All vessels engaged in the carriage of passengers and goods for hire 
regardless of tonnage, Including such vessels of foreign registry temporarily used 
In Philippine waters; and
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b. All types of vessels required to be registered in the Philippines under
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existing laws.
Warships, naval vessels, non-motorized bancas, sailboats and other 
watercrafts of less than three (3) gross registered tonnage (GRT) shall not be 
covered by this Act.
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SEC. 4. Mandatory Minimum Safety Standards and Measures. - All vessels
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covered by the provisions of this Act shall strictly observe the following:
a. The showing of a film, at least of ten (10) minutes length and dubbed 
in the local dialects of the points of origin and destination of the vessel, 
pertaining to the ship's safety, health and sanitation in such places in the vessel, 
and in such times that will ensure that most if not all passengers on board have 
effectively seen and heard the same;
b. All watertight doors, portholes, ramps and manholes shall be securely 
locked and checked prior to leaving port and must be regularly inspected during 
the voyage;
c. .-During any emergency, the posting of crew members and other 
personnel of the vessel on strategic areas or points in the vessel as may be 
indicated in its general emergency plan for the purpose of assisting the 
passengers to, or prioritizing and ensuring their safety;
d. The clearing, at all times, of all passageways of any obstruction. Safe 
and convenient storage for passengers' hand carried luggages must be provided; 
and
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e. The wearing of prescribed uniform and identification cards by the ship's
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officers and crew, including security personnel, while they are on duty.
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SEC. 5. Provision of Standard Safety Equipment - All vessels covered by
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the provisions of this Act shall at all times be provided with:


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a. Life vests of life jackets on board the vessel in the quantity of twenty 
(20) units or pieces more than the passenger load capacity of such vessel as 
determined and authorized by the MARINA imprinted with the vessel's name, 
conspicuously stored in any locker and must be readily accessible for use in any 
case of emergency;
b. Lifeboats or rubber boats on board the vessel in the quantity of two (2) 
units more than what is sufficient to accommodate the passenger load capacity 
of such vessel, including the crew members of the vessel, imprinted with the 
vessel's name conspicuously located in strategic points or areas of the vessel, 
and must be readily accessible for use in any case of emergency:
c. At least (2) accessible emergency exits or escape openings in all 
general areas, and the location of such shall be indicated by luminous signs 
visible in all passenger areas showing the proper direction thereto;
d. Independent red blinking lights as a part of, and indicating each 
emergency exit or escape opening for the purpose of assisting the passengers in 
identifying such exits In cases of emergency;
e. Emergency lights, in good working condition, in all passenger 
accommodations, passageways and stairways that shall automatically switch on 
in any case of power failure in the vessel; and
f. Sketches of the vessel indicating the locations of lifejackets and 
lifeboats, firefighting equipment, emergency exits, and the major sections of the 
vessel, passageways and stairways, including the vessel's general emergency 
plan, must be conspicuously displayed In the passenger lounges and inside 
cabins and suites.
SEC. 6. Passenger Overloading. - No vessel shall:
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a. Leave a port unless its manifest or passenger list has been prepared
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and made available by the concerned ship officer;
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b. Leave the port carrying more than or in excess of its authorized
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passenger load capacity;


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c. Accept persons or passengers without a valid ticket issued by the ship
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owner or its authorized agent;
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d. Allow selling or issuance of tickets on board.
SEC. 7. Delineation of Functions. - Notwithstanding existing laws, rules 
and memoranda and issuances the Maritime Industry Authority or MARINA shall 
promulgate rules and regulations for the effective implementation of the 
provisions of this Act
The Philippine Coast Guard (PC) shall assist the MARINA in the 
enforcement of this Act and its implementing rules and regulations. For this 
purpose, it shall be primarily responsible for enforcing the provisions of this Act 
before any vessel leaves, or as it calls on, any port, and whenever, allowed by 
law, or when necessary in the interest of the safety of the passengers, while any 
such vessel in on its voyage at sea.
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SEC. 8. Penalties. - Any violation of the provisions of this Act shall be
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punished accordingly:
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a. Any violation of the provisions of Section 4 of this Act shall be punished
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with a fine not less than Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) but not more than
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One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) to the ship owners or judicial entity
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concerned. For the third violation of the same provisions, the ship owners and
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other responsible officers, as the case may be, shall be punished by an
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imprisonment of two (2) years and one (1) day;
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b. Any violation of the provisions of Section 5 of this Act shall be punished
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with a fine not less than One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) but not
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more than Two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00) to the shipowners or
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juridical entity concerned. For the third violation of the same provisions, the
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shipowners and other responsible officers, as the case may be, shall be punished
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by an imprisonment of three (3) years and one (1) day;
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c. Any violation of the provisions of Section 6 of this Act shall be punished
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with a fine not less than One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) but not
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more than Two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00) to the ship owners or
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juridical entity, or employee or agent concerned. For the third violation of the
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same provisions, the ship owners and other responsible officer, or agent or


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employee, as the case may be, sfiall be punished by an imprisonment of three 
(3) years and one (1) day. p
SEC. 9. When Injuries or Deaths Occur. - Whenever less grave or serious 
physical injuries or death of any passenger occur as a direct and efficient cause 
of any violation of Section 4, 5 and 6 of this Act as may be shown by evidence in 
a judicial proceeding, the responsible persons of the entity shall be punished with 
imprisonment of not less than six (6) years but not more than twelve (12) years, 
without prejudice to the penalties imposed in the abovementioned sections.
SEC. 10. Jurisdiction of Courts. - The jurisdiction over a case arising from 
any violations of this Act shall be in accordance with the pertinent provisions of 
Batas Pambansa Bilang 129 as amended: Provided, That if the violation occurred 
at sea, the court whose seat is the most proximate in distance to such location of 
the vessel at sea shall have jurisdiction.
SEC. 11. Impiementing Ruies and Reguiations. - Within sixty (60) days 
from the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Transportation and 
Communications (DOTC), in coordination with its relevant attached agencies, 
MARINA, Coast Guard, and private sector shipping practitioners, shall promulgate 
the necessary Implementing Ruies and Regulations for the effective 
implementation of this Act.
SEC. 12. Repeaiing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules 
and regulations or other issuance, or parts thereof, inconsistent with this Act are 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 13. Separability Clause. - If any portion of provision of this Act is 
declared unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act of any provisions not 
affected thereby shall remain in force and effect.
SEC. 14. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or two (2) newspapers of general circulation in 
the Philippines.
29 Approved,