SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC} 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
} 
Second Regu/ar Session 
) 
"14 Jill -7 AlO :08 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 
2303 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
PRESCRIBING SCHOOL BUS SAFETY STANDARDS AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to prescribe safety standards and regulations for public transport, 
specifically school buses in order to protect the lives of school children/student 
passengers riding in the school buses. 
The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) shall prescribe 
proficiency standards for school bus drivers as well as require the installation of 
seat belts for drivers and passengers prior to the registration and renewal of 
school buses. 
This measure was previously filed by Sen. Manny Villar in the 15th Congress. 
The immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
Senator 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
,Seml1r 
lOff,;. of !~, ;i-""t .. ~ 
'14 
JUL -7 AlO:08 
, 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 2303 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
PRESCRIBING SCHOOL BUS SAFETY STANDARDS AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
1 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "School Bus Safety 
2 
Act'. 
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby the policy of the State to promote 
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safety in order to protect passengers of school buses from injury in case of 
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accidents. 
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SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the term: 
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(a) "Bus" means a motor vehicle with motive power, except a trailer, designed 
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for carrying more than 10 persons; 
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(b) "School Bus" means a bus that is used for purposes that include carrying 
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students to and from public or private school or school-related events on a 
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regular basis, but does not include a transit bus or a school, chartered 
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bus; 
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(c) "School-Chartered Bus" means a bus that is operated under a short-term 
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contract with the school authorities who have acquired exclusive use of 
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the bus at a fixed charge in order to provide transportation for a group of 
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pupils to a special school-related event; 
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(d) "Secretary" means the Secretary of Transportation and Communications. 
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(e) "Seats Belts" refer to the combined lap belt and shoulder strap that fasten 
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a rider to moving vehicle and prevent him from being thrown out or against 
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the interior of the vehicle during sudden stops, 
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SEC. 4. Proficiency Standards for School Bus Drivers. -
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(a) Requirement - Not later than one (1) year after the date of enactment of 
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this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe proficiency standards for school bus 
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drivers who are required to possess a professional license to operate a 
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school bus. 
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(b) Demonstration of Proficiency - Upon the prescription of standards under 
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subsection (a), each school bus driver referred to in subsection (a) shall 
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demonstrate (at such interval as the Secretary shall prescribe) to the 
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employer of the driver, the school, the licensing agency, or other person or 
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agency responsible for regulating school bus drivers the proficiency of 
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such driver in operating a school bus in accordance with the proficiency 
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standards prescribed under subsection (a) or the proficiency standards 
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established by the State concerned, as the case may be. 
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SEC. 5. Seat Belts in School Buses. -
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(A) Requirement for Installation - Not later than one (1) year after the date of 
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the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe regulations 
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requiring driver seat belts and passenger seat belts (including lap safety 
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belts or other child safety devices meeting applicable government safety 
22 
standards) for each seating position in any newly manufactured school 
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bus. Owners of school buses which are not currently equipped with seat 
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belts shall be given a period of six (6) months from the publication of the 
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regulations by the Secretary to install the necessary seat belts in their 
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school buses. 
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(B) Promotion of Seat Belt Usage 
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(1) In General - The Secretary, in consultation with appropriate safety 
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organizations and parent-teacher organizations, silall conduct a 
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program to promote and encourage the use of seat belts in school 
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buses. 
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(2) Elements of Program- In conducting the program required under this 
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subsection, the Secretary shall: 
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(a) Encourage the local governments to monitor the mandatory usage 
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of seat belts in school buses; 
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(b) Develop and disseminate educational materials on the importance 
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of using seat belts to passengers and drivers of school buses; and, 
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(c) Recognize in an appropriate manner school that achieve a high 
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level of seat belt usage by passengers and drivers of school buses. 
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SEC. 6. 
Determination of Practicability and Feasibility of Certain Safety and 
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Access Requirements for School Buses. -
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(a) Commencement of Rulemaking Process -
Immediately upon the 
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enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall begin a rulemaking process to 
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determine the feasibility and practicability of the requirement for a 
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decrease in the flammability of the materials used in the construction of 
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the interiors of school buses. 
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, ' . 
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(b) Final Rule -
Not later than one (1) year after such date, the Secretary 
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shall promulgate a final rule providing for any requirement or standard 
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referred to in subsection (a) that the Secretary determines to be feasible 
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and practicable. 
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SEC. 7. Registration. - No school bus shall be allowed to acquire, maintain, and 
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renew registration unless it is equipped with the necessary seat belts. 
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SEC. 8. Implementing Authority. - The Secretary shall be primarily responsible 
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for the enforcement of the provisions of this Act. 
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The Secretary may provide for a reasonable period for public notice and 
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comment consistent with ensuring expeditious but full implementation of the 
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prescribed safety requirement of this Act. 
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SEC. 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act shall at any time be 
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found to be unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder thereof not affected by such 
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declaration shall remain in full force and effect. 
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SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, rules or regulations inconsistent 
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with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 11. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
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following its complete publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
3