Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3077

HOUSE BILL Ni

Introduced by HON. JOHN TRACY F. CAGAS

AN ACT MANDATING THE DEPARMENT OF EDUCATION TO INCLUDE
IN THE CURRICULA OF ELEMENTARY AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL A
SUBJECT ON ROAD SAFETY AND TRAFFIC EDUCATION

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill mandates the Department of Education to include in the curricula of elementary and
senior high school a subject on road safety and traffic education

Today, road traffic injuries are categorized as the eight-leading cause of death globally. The
World health Organization (WHO), in its Global Status Report on Road Safety 2015, estimated a
worldwide average of 1.25 million road traffic deaths annually from 2007 to 2013. The report also
stated that if no action is taken, road traffic injuries will be the seventh leading cause of death by
2030.

In the Philippines, the increasing number of traffic accidents can be attributed mainly to
ignorance and flagrant disregard of laws on road safety. Data on the attempts to curb traffic law
violations have been dauntingly ineffective. In the aforecited Global Status Report, the WHO also
stated that the Philippines got a 5 out of 10 rating in the implementation of Republic Act No. 8750,
otherwise known as the “ Seat Belts Use Act of 1999,” a 6 out of 10 rating in the implementation of
Republic Act No. 10054, otherwise known as the “Motorcycle Helmet Act of 2009, and a dismal 1
out of 10 rating in the implementation of Republic Act No. 10856, otherwise known as the “Anti-
Drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2013.” The WHO report also pointed out that the Philippines still
lacks a law banning the use of mobile phones and other gadgets while driving which has been since
addressed.

Education is an integral part of solving the stark disregard of road safety and traffic rules and
regulations, If the government is bent on curbing the problems on road safety and ignorance of traffic
rules and regulations plaguing the country, one of the major keys toward this goal is to change the
mindset of the students by educating and inculeating in their young minds the importance of road
safety, the proper use of roads, the different laws on driving and other measures that ensure safe road
travel. Thus, this bill aims to integrate a separate subject to be called Road Safety and Traffic
Education in the curricula of the elementary and senior high school students.

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

JOHN TRACY F. CAGAS


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 3077

Introduced by HON. JOHN TRACY F, CAGAS

AN ACT MANDATING THE DEPARMENT OF EDUCATION TO INCLUDE
IN THE CURRICULA OF ELEMENTARY AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL A
SUBJECT ON ROAD SAFETY AND TRAFFIC EDUCATION

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 “Students’ Road Safety and
Traffic Education Act.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy ~ It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
protect and ensure the safety of road users and instill in them the importance of road safety
and traffic laws at an early age. As the principal institutional mechanism for imparting
knowledge is education, it is imperative to include a subject on road safety and traffic
education in the curricula of elementary and senior high school.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms — As used in this Act:

a) Elementary refers to the level of students enrolled in Grades | to 6;

b) Senior high school refers to the level of students enrolled in Grades 11 and 12
under Republic Act (RA) No. 10533, otherwise known as the “Enhanced Basic
Education Act of 2013;

c) Road Safety refers to the methods and measures that are issued and implemented
to reduce the risk of injury, death and harm to drivers, passengers and pedestrians
and other road users.

SECTION 4. Road Safety and Traffic Education Subject — A new subject called
“Road Safety and Traffic Education” is hereby included in the curricula of elementary and
senior high school students. The new subject is divided into basic and advanced modules for
elementary and senior high school students, respectively. The modules shall include the
following:

a) Basic module
1, Observance of road signs and signals by pedestrians, drivers and
passengers of the different modes of land transport;
2. Observance of railroad signs, signals and the stop, look and listen rule;


awe

7.

Use of pedestrian crossings and walkways, bicycle and motor vehicle
lanes, points of embarkation and disembarkation, sidewalks and
overpasses;

Use of helmets and seatbelts;

Anti-drunk and drugged driving;

Hazards on the road; and

Traffic accidents and its consequences.

a) Advanced module

1.
2.

Overview of the basic module;
Rights and responsibilities of driver, vehicle owner, operator of public
utility vehicles and commuters;

Introduction to the organizational set-up and functions of the Land
‘Transportation Office and other land transport-related institutions;

Basic knowledge of RA 10666, otherwise known as the “Children’s Safety
on Motorcycle Act of 2015” which makes it unlawful for any person to
drive a two-wheeled motorcycle with a child on board on public roads
where there is heavy volume of vehicles, when there is a high density of
fast-moving vehicles or where a speed limit of not more than 60 kilometer
per hour is imposed;

Basic knowledge of RA 10586, otherwise known as the “Anti-Drunk and
Drugged Driving Act of 2013” which penalizes persons driving under the
influence of alcohol, dangerous drugs and similar substances:

Basic knowledge of RA 10054, otherwise known as the “Motorcycle
Helmet Act of 2009” that mandates all motorcycle riders to wear standard
protective helmets while driving:

Basic knowledge of RA 8750, otherwise known as the “Seat Belts Use Act
of 1999” that requires the mandatory compliance by motorists of private
and public vehicles to use sat belt devices, and requiring vehicle
manufacturers to install seat belt devices in all their manufactured
vehicles; and

Other existing laws or ordinances and other related topics on road safety
and traffic management including those which prohibit drivers from using
mobile phones and other gadgets while driving a motor vehicle,
agricultural machinery, a construction vehicle and other forms of
transportation such as bicycles, pedicabs, trolleys, habal-habal, kuliglig as
well as human and animal-powered carriages.

SEC. 5. Teaching Modules ~ The scope of the teaching modules for each grade level
shall be identified by the Department of Education (DepEd), taking into consideration the age
and the level of comprehension of the students.

‘The UP- National Center for Transportation Studies Foundation, Inc. shall assist the
DepEd in designing the teaching modules on road safety and traffic education.

SEC. 6. Education Materials — all grade schools and high schools shall keep in their
libraries an adequate number of copies of the textbook, primer and leaflet on road safety and


traffic education prescribed by the DepEd. The adequacy of the number of books shall also be
determined by the DepEd.

SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations — Within sixty (60) days from the
approval of this act, the Department of Education shall, in coordination with the Land
Transportation Office, promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for effective
implementation of this Act.

SEC. 8. Effectivity — This Act shall take effect fifteen days (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,