, ' 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PI-IILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
'1Ij 
DEC -9 P 2 :45 
SENATE 
_________ 
S_.N_O_. _2_4_9_4 _____ 
:..:.-hC_":..:.-J"'_',_li :lY:'f'" 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING THE USE OF SAFETY DEVICES FOR CHILDREN RIDING IN MOTOR 
VEHICLES l 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 5 provides: 
Section 5. The maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, 
liberty, and property, and promotion of the general welfare are essential for the 
enjoyment by all the people of the blessings of democracy. 
In the Philippines, accidents of all types - including road traffic crashes - rank fourth 
among the causes of mortality in all ages. Road traffic crashes constitute the second leading 
cause of injury death with a mortality rate o[ 7.8/1 00,000. Among children 0-17 years of age, it 
is the second leading cause of injury death (with mortality rate of 5.85/1 00,000), next to 
drowning.2 In 2006,1,185 deaths and 5,870 non-fatal injuries were reported along national roads 
and highways.3 
Lack of seat belts or improper use of restraints may account for a substantial portion of 
these deaths. Adult seat belts are ill equipped to protect young children. Child seats provide 
effective restraint [or young children riding in motor vehicles and minimize risk of death and 
injury during car crashes. However, the implementation of mandatory child seats may not be 
feasible, affordable, and sustainable in developing countries such as the Philippines. Republic 
Act No. 8750 mandates the installation and use of adult seat belts in front and rear seats of any 
private motor vehicle. Children below six years of age are likewise prohibited from occupying 
1 This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, Third Regular Session. 
2Philippine National Injury Survey, unpublished, 2003. Found in 
<http://www.doh.gov.ph/s ites/ defaul tlfi I eslV 0 I. %203 %20Issue%203 %20N ovem ber%20200 8. pdf> 
3 Traffic Accident Report Application System, Depaliment oFPublic Works and Highways, 2007. 


the front seat of any moving motor vehicle. However, the Republic Act No. 8750 does not 
require the use of specialized seats or restraints for young children. This bill seeks to address that 
deficiency. 
2 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
'14 
DEC -9 P 2 :45 
S. N;EN'2f.i 9 4 
________________________ 
-...:-H"--J_' '_'<,,--P_.'ED I} Y. --t--
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of the Representative of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
1 
AN ACT 
2 
REQUIRING THE USE OF SAFETY DEVICES FOR CHILDREN RIDING IN MOTOR 
3 
VEHICLES 
4 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Child Safety Device Act". 
5 
SECTION 2. Declaration 0/ Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote the general 
6 
welfare of the people. Pursuant to this policy, and emphasizing that safe driving practices and 
7 
proper use of safety devices remain the best way to protect children from traffic crashes and 
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injuries resulting from vehicular accidents, this Act seeks to penalize any driver of a motor 
9 
vehicle to travel with children on board without providing for a safety device for such children. 
10 
SECTION 3. Definition a/Terms. - (A) "Adult" means any person eighteen (18) years 
11 
old and above. 
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(B) "Child" or "children" means any person or persons twelve (12) years and below. 
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(C) "Motor vehicle" means every vehicle operated or driven upon a public highway 
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which is propelled by any power other than muscular power and is being used in any way to 
IS 
carry any child from one place to another. 
16 
CD) "Safety devices" shall mean any device approved by the Land Transportation Office 
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to ensure the safety of children riding in motor vehicles. 
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SECTION 4. Prohibited Acts and Penalties for Violation thereof - It shall be unlawful 
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.for any driver of a motor vehicle to travel which children on board without providing a safety 
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device for such children. Any driver in violation of this provision shall be punished by a fine of 
2 
Five Thousand Pesos (PS,OOO.OO) or imprisonment of not more than thirty (30) days, or both at 
3 
the discretion of the court, taking into consideration all attending circumstances. The license of 
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such driver shall also be revoked upon final conviction for two (2) violations of this provision. 
S 
Such revocation shall prohibit the grant of a new driver's license for the twelve (12) months from 
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the date of the conviction. 
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It shall also be unlawful for any adult accompanying any child or to allow such child to 
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travel on a motor vehicle which does not have safety devices for children, unless such adult 
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provides one for the child's own use. Any person in violation of this provision shall be punished 
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by a fine of Two Thousand Pesos (P2,000.00) or imprisonment of not more than thirty (30) days, 
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"or both at the discretion of the court, taking into consideration all attending circumstances. 
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SECTION S. Exceptions. - The provisions of this Act shall not apply to public utility 
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vehicles such as, but not limited to, jeepneys and buses, as well as to emergency vehicles. It shall 
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likewise not apply to medical emergencies or when, because of the circumstances of the 
IS 
situation, riding in a motor vehicle without a safety device removes such child from an even 
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greater or more imminent danger. 
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SECTION 6. Implementing Agency. - The Land Transportation Office shall be the 
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primary implementing and supervising agency for the implementation of this Act. It shall 
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.formulate the necessary implementing rules and regulations immediately upon the approval of 
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this Act which it shall promulgate not more than sixty (60) days after the approval such approval. 
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It shall likewise formulate a procedure for the approval of safety devices for use by 
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children in motor vehicles and (0 publish a list of such approved devices not more than ninety 
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(90) days after the approval of this Act. 
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SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part thereof is held invalid or 
2S 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, proclamation, rules and 
2 
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, 
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'amended, or modified accordingly. 
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SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen days (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
imamt27Nov20 14 
3