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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

6051
House Bill No.

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippines has approximately 203,000 km of roads (2008)
and 6.6 million registered motor vehicles (2010). The Metro Manila
Urban Transportation Integrated Study (MMUTIS) reports public
transport accounts for 80% of all trips thereby accounting for the great
demand for public utility vehicles and yet complaints have been
tremendous regarding the traffic flow of Metro Manila's arteries
because public utility buses load and unload indiscriminately, causing
major losses in the productivity and safety of Filipinos.

‘The mandatory installation of GPS device in every public utility
vehicle in the country will first and foremost allow operators to detect,
monitor and investigate the route and the movement of all bus, truck,
PUV units within their company, real-time. Urban transit agencies all
over the world use the technology for a number of purposes, including
monitoring schedule adherence of buses in service, triggering changes
of buses’ destination sign displays at the end of the line (or other set
location along a bus route), and triggering pre-recorded
announcements for passengers. The satellite-tracking feature of the



GPS keeps employees honest. The knowledge that they can be tracked
by a GPS discourages drivers from making inappropriate pit stops,
spending time idle, or padding travel time by going on alternate routes.
Whereas the passengers of busses or the cargo in trucks are
transported safely and in good condition, the GPS also provides an
effective way to create and calculate more efficient routes thereby
invariably decreasing gas consumption in a country where fuel is never
a cheap commodity.

The GPS as a vehicle tracking system also assist in theft
prevention. The knowledge that a GPS, a monitoring and retrieval
device is installed in the unit can greatly dissuade a driver, a
passenger or even an outsider, from enacting a criminal activity. When
used as a security system, the GPS provides a reliable addition to the
vehicle's alarm. The existence of vehicle tracking device then can be
used to reduce the insurance cost, because the loss-risk of the vehicle
drops significantly. In the event that a crime gets consummated, the
GPS aids in law enforcement. Police can simply follow the signal
emitted by the tracking system and locate a stolen vehicle.
Apprehending responsible persons in such crimes has always been
difficult, if not nearly impossible, for our law enforcers because of the
lack of comprehensive, precise evidence for leads. Through the
approval of this bill, such limitation will be downright addressed.

The LTFRB assures that public utility vehicle operators and
drivers are well-informed of current, updated fare matrixes and routes
and requires that these be posted in the public utility vehicle units, in
the PUV operators’ offices, terminals and waiting stations to properly
inform commuters as well. LTFRB sanctions operators and drivers who
collect fares beyond what is approved. However, the LTFRB has poor
enforcement capacity, as indicated by the huge number of public
utility vehicles (colorum) operating in Metro Manila without franchises
or outside approved routes. Indeed, GPS vehicle-tracking units can
accurately determine a wide-variety of location-based data. In fact,
aside from the advantages explained above, the data from the GPS


trackers can also be used to calculate whether or not customers are
charged their fees fairly. Operators and franchise owners of these
vehicles used for public utility can then effectively manage their fleet
and be held accountable for their units while these are on the road.

Undeniably, the mandatory installation of GPS tracking device in
every bus, or truck operated for public utility would be beneficial to all
the parties involved - the owners/operators who can maintain goodwill
and reputation by promising the public good and safe transportation
services; the innocent PUV drivers who may also be victimized at
times; and more importantly, the riding public who, aside from having
to deal with the great inconveniences entailed by Metro Manila traffic.
GPS installation provides accountability in management and added
safety and security for the people thereby improving the quality of
transportation for the country.

It is for this reason that the approval of this Bill is being sought.

eure,

ERIC OLIVAREZ


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

6051

House Bill No.

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE MANDATORY INSTALLATION OF
GPS TRACKING DEVICE IN TRUCKS, BUSSES, AND OTHER
VEHICLES BEING OPERATED FOR PUBLIC UTILITY IN THE

COUNTRY

SECTION 1. Name. This Act shall be known as the “Mandatory
GPS for PUVs Act of 2015”.

SECTION 2. Definition of Terms.

GPS - “Global Positioning System” - a space-
based satellite navigation system that provides
location and time information in all weather
conditions, anywhere on or near the Earth where
there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more
GPS satellites

Public Utility Vehicles- busses, trucks and other
units used for public transport such as FX, taxis,


multi-cabs, TNCs (transportation network companies)
and their TNVs (transportation network vehicles),
used because of its ubiquity, flexibility, reasonable
cost, and traditional and habitual acceptability.

Public Utility Owners/ Operators - for purposes
of this Act, it shall mean owners or operators of
busses, trucks and other vehicles used for public
utility at large;

SECTION 3. Mandatory installation of GPS. All public utility
vehicle owners/operators, whether under an existing franchise or
upon application of a new one, are hereby required to install a GPS
device in every bus or truck unit he/she presently owns/operates
or will own/operate in the future.

SECTION 4. Allowance for Owners/Operators with Subsisting
Franchise. Owners/Operators of busses, trucks and other public utility
vehicles under an existing franchise are given two (2) months from
promulgation of this Act to comply with the requirement of installing
GPS device in each and all their units.

SECTION 5. Monitoring. The Land Transportation Franchising
and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) shall conduct regular ocular
inspections after the lapse of two (2) months from the promulgation of
this Act to ensure that all licensed owners/operators have complied
with the requirements of this Act.

SECTION 6. Requirement for Application of a New Franchise.
Application for a franchise to operate a bus line or truck business by a
person or persons who wish to own/operate busses and trucks as
public utility vehicles, shall not be granted until and unless the owner
or operator, upon the inspection and assessment of the Land


Transportation Office (LTO), is ready and/or equipped to install a GPS
device for every unit it owns/ will operate.

SECTION 7. Applicants to Obtain Certification from Land
Transportation Office. Applicants of a new franchise shall obtain a
certification from LTFRB stating that it is equipped with a GPS device,
and the said certification shall be attached or incorporated to the other
pertinent documents necessary for the application process of a
franchise to operate a bus line or truck transport business.

SECTION 8. Pending Applications for Franchise. Applications for
franchise already filed before the LTFRB but pending approval thereof
upon the promulgation of this Act shall be deferred until and unless
applicants comply with the additional requirement as provided under
this Act and thereby acquire and/or equip their business with
necessary GPS device. An additional requirement of obtaining
Certification from the LTFRB as stated in Section 7 hereof shall be
submitted by the applicants whose franchise applications are pending.
Only upon the attainment and submission of the said certification,
along with compliance with other requirements as required by existing
laws, shall the application be finally granted or approved.

SECTION 9. Unannounced Inspections. Authorized personnel of
the LTFRB may conduct unannounced or surprised inspections of the
aforementioned public utility vehicles to ensure compliance with this
Act.

SECTION 10. Requirement for LTO Registration. After the
expiration of two (2) month grace period required by this Act for the
installation of GPS, no bus, truck or any other public utility vehicle for
that matter, shall be allowed registration by the LTO sans the GPS.

SECTION 11. Violation of this Act. Violation of any of the
provisions of this Act shall be meted with a revocation of
license/franchise to operate their business by the LTFRB and
imprisonment for not more than one (1) year and a fine of not more


than TWENTY (20) THOUSAND PESOS against the proprietor of the
business to be imposed by a court of competent jurisdiction, as the
case may be;

SECTION 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The
Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) in
coordination with the LTFRB and LTO shall promulgate the
Implementing Rules and Regulations to carry out the provisions of this
Act. Such rules and regulations shall take effect upon their
publication in three (3) newspapers of general circulation.

SECTION 13. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, presidential decrees,
letters of instructions, executive orders, rules and regulations insofar
as they are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed or amended
as the case may be.

SECTION 14. Separability Clause. - In the event that any
provision of this Act or any portion thereof is declared unconstitutional
by a competent court, the other provisions shall not be affected
thereby and shall remain valid and enforceable.

SECTION 15. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after
its complete publication in at least three (3) newspapers of general
circulation.

APPROVED.