Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 8246
Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE CHEEN0 MIGUEL D. ALMARIO
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The  Philippine  Statistics  Authority  (PSA)  records  6,440  deaths  due  to
transportation accidents between January to September 2021, a 4.2% increase
from the previous year. Considering mobility restrictions were still being enforced
because  of  the  pandemic,  the  reported  number  of  accident  cases  with  no
significant decrease is very alarming.
Most   road   accidents   in   the   country   are   caused   by   human   error.
Unfortunately, one of the contributing factors is missing, damaged, or vandalized
road and traffic signages. This reprehensible practice, which to some perpetrators
is  just  a  prank,  is  costly  and  inconvenient,  to  say  the  least.  For  one,  it  costs
taxpayers money to replace new signs. Another is extracting expense and nuisance
to people whose properties are damaged. Most tragically, it could lead to death for
road users like motorists, passengers, drivers, and pedestrians.
In view of the above, this bill seeks to improve road conditions and ensure
road safety for road users with proper signs and preventive devices. The proposed
measure aims to discourage theft and vandalism of government roads and traffic
signs and similar devices through stiffer penalties.
A similar version of this bill was filed in the 18th Congress, passed the Third
and Final Reading, and transmitted to the Senate on December 16, 2020.
. ALMARIO
2nd District, Davao Oriental


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSEBILLNo.8246
Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE CHEEN0 MIGUEL D. ALMARIO
ANACT
IMPOSING STIFFER PENALTIES FOR THE OFFENSES 0F STEALING OR
VANDALIZING OF GOVERNMENT ROAD AND TRAFFIC SIGNS,
WARNING DEVICES, ACCESSORIES AND OTHER FACILTIES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives Of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:
1                     SECTION  1.  Short  Title  -This  Act  shall  be  known  as  the  "SfecrJi`ng  or
2.       Vandalizing of Government Road and Traf flilc signs and Devices Act",
3                   SEC. 2. Declaration of policy -It is the policy of the state to protect the
4      safety of people and their property, in this regard, the  State shall endeavor to
5       continually improve the condition of roads and make vehicular` traffic as safe as
6      possible by providing motorists with appropriate information through signs and
7       accident-prevention  devices.  In  pursuit  of  this  end,  the  State  shall  mandate
8       concerned government agencies and instrumentalities to install, in conspicuous
9       and appropriate places, road and traffic signs and devices, to warn motorists of
10       risksanddangersontheroad.
11                   SEC. 3.  Theft and Damage of Government Traffic and Road signs and
12       Devices -It shall be unlawful to steal or vandalize government road and traffic
13       signs, warning devices, accessories, and other facilities, installed by national and
14       local governments to caution motorists of imminent dangers along the road.
15                   SEC.  4.  Government  Road  and  Traffic  Signs  Warning  Devices  and
16      Accessories -As used in this Act, the term "road and trafficsigns, warningdevices
17       and accessories, and other facilities" shall mean road or traffic signs exemplified
18       by  the  signs  "Stop",  "Yield",  "Slippery  When  Wet".  Signs  indicating  zigzagging
19       sections  of  roads,  railings,  and  similar  devices  shall  serve  to  provide  road
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20       information,  notices,  and  warnings  to  motorists  and  the  public  to  facilitate
21       vehicular traffic and avoid the occurrence of accidents and loss of life, and damage
22       to  property.  A  man-hole  cover shall be  considered  a  road  accident-prevention
23       accessory.
24                    The Department of public works and Highways (DPWH) shall provide a list
25       of all lawful road and traffic signs, warning devices and accessories, and  other
26       facilities owned bythe government. The listshall be updated as the need arises.
27                   SEC. 5. Prohibited Acts -It shall be unlawful for any person to commit any
28       ofthefollowingacts:
29                            1.    Steal government road and traffic signs, waming devices, accessories,
30                                  and other facilities or any parts thereof, installed by national and local
31                                 governments,listed and duly provided by the DPWH under section 4 of
32                                    this Act;
33                           2.   Vandalize, damage, destroy, dismantle, or disassemble government road
34                                  and traffic signs, waming devices, accessories, and other facilities or any
35                                  part thereof, installed by national and local governments, listed and duly
36                                 provided by the DPWH under section 4 of this Act;
37                           3.    Sell or buy stolen road and traffic signs, waming devices, accessories,
38                                  and other facilities or any part thereof, listed and duly provided by the
39                                 DPWH under section 4 of this Act;
40                           4.   Attempt to commit any of the aforementioned prohibited acts; and
41                           5.   Benefit  from  the  proceeds  or  fruits  of any  of the  abovementioned
42                                  prohibited acts knowing that the same is derived from the commission
43                                  of a prohibited act.
44                    SEC.  6.  Penalties -The violation  of this Act shall be  punished with the
45       followingpenalties:
46                           a.    The penalty of imprisonment of not less than twelve (12) years but not
47                                  more  than  (15)  years  or  a  fine  twice  (2x)  the  market  value  of the
48                                 government  property  stolen  in  Philippine  Currency,  or  both,  at  the
49                                  discretion of the court, shall be imposed on any person found guilty of
50                                 stealing    government    road    and   trafflc    signs,    waming    devices,
51                                  accessories, and other facilities or any part thereof, including manhole
52                                  covers as defined in section 4 of this Act;
53                           b.    The same penalty provided under paragraph (a) of this section shall be
54                                  imposed on any person found guilty  of selling or buying government
55                                  road   and   traffic   signs,   other   risk   reduction   or   warning   devices,
56                                 accessories, and other facilities or any part thereof as defined in section
57                                  4 of this Act;
58                           c.    The penalty of imprisonment of not less than six (6) years but not more
59                                  than  ten  (10)  years  or  a  fine  twice  (2x)  the  market  value  of  the
60                                 government property in philippine currency, or both, at the discretion
61                                  of the court, shall be imposed on any person found guilty of vandalizing,
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destroying, damaging, tempering, and disassembling government road
and traffic signs, waming devices, accessories, and other facilities or any
part thereof, including manhole covers as defined in Section 4 of this
Act;
d.   The penalty of imprisonment of not less than two (2) years but not more
than  seven  (7)  years  or  a  fine  twice  (2x)  the  market  value  of the
government property in Philippine Currency, or both, at the discretion
of the court, shall be imposed on any person found guilty of unlawfully
benefiting  from  the  proceeds  or  fruits  of any  of the  prohibited  acts
enumerated in Section 4 of this Act; and
e.    Government employees found guilty of a violation of this Act either as
principal  or  as  an  accomplice  shall  be  penalized  according  to  the
penalties   prescribed   in   Section   6   of  this   Act.   In   addition,   such
government employees shall forfeit all their retirement benefits and shall
be barred from further employment with the government.
77                    SEC.  7.  Incentives  -Cash  incentives  shall  be  provided  to  a  person  or
78       persons who will provide information leadingto the apprehension of violators of
79       this  Act.  The  amount  of  incentives  shall  be  provided  for  in  the  rules  and
80       regulations to be promulgated to implementthis Act.
81                   SEC. 8. Non-applicability of Articles 308, 309, and 310 of the Revised
82       Penal code-Articles308, 309,and 310ofthe Revised penalcodeshall notapply
83       to cases contemplated or enumerated in thisAct.
84                   SEC.  9.  Implementing  Rules  and  Regulations  -Within  one  hundred
85       eighty  (180)  days  from  the  effectivity  of this  Act,  the  DPWH  shall  issue  the
86      necessary rules and regulations for its implementation.
87                    SEC.10. Separability clause -Any pordon or provision of this Act which
88      may be declared unconstitutional or contrary to any existing law shall not have
89       the effect of nullifying other portions or provisions hereof.
90                    SEC.11. Repealing clause -All other laws, ordinances, rules, regulations,
91       and  other issuances  or parts thereof, which are  inconsistent with this Act,  are
92       herebyrepealed or modified accordingly.
93                    SEC.12. Effectivity -This Act shall take effect fifteen  (15)  days after its
94       publication in the official Gazette ora newspaper of general circulation.
95                     Approved.