Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

8746

House Bill No.

Introduced by DIWA Party-list Representative Pepito M. Pico

EXPLANATORY NOTE

A dutiful parent’s primary concern when sending their children to school is their
children’s safety. While it is understandable that not all accidents could be prevented, we, as
responsible service consumers, must still remain vigilant and pro-active when it comes to
ensuring that our children get the safest and most reliable transportation to and from their
school. This is why it is important to evaluate and scrutinize the safety and security of school
buses in the country.

In the United States of America, for example, school bus drivers are required to go
through a meticulous screening process and a rigorous training as part of their federal
regulations. They are obliged to undergo an even more extensive set of trainings and
certifications than drivers of any other highway vehicle. Not only must they have a
commercial driver’s license, they must also have specific passenger and school bus
endorsements. Trainings in first aid, security, emergency evacuation, and student behavior
management are also mandated. Even more, they also conduct pre-employment and periodic
background checks as well as drug and alcohol testing.

The protection of students in school buses, should therefore, be well ensured here in
the Philippines because it is the right of every child to be able to attend school without having
any fear or threat of being harmed. Considering the escalating number of transportation-
related accidents, I believe that the proper attention must be given to our various
transportation mechanisms, including our school bus systems. This bill, a re-filing of House
Bill 757 filed by former DIWA Party-list Representative Emmeline Villar, intends to
professionalize our school bus system and mandates the installation of security features in
every unit of school bus, operating in every school throughout the country.

PEPITO M. PICO
Representatjve, DIWA Party-list

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

House Bill No. peas

Introduced by DIWA Party-list Representative Pepito M. Pico

AN ACT
PRESCRIBING SCHOOL BUS SAFETY STANDARDS AND FOR OTHER,
PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congressassembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the "School Bus Safety Act."

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
promote safety in order to protect passengers of school buses from injury in case of accidents.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. As used in this Act, the term:

A. "Bus" means a motor vehicle with motive power, except a trailer, designed
for carrying more than ten (10) persons;

B. "School Bus" means a bus that is used for purposes that include carrying
students to and from public or private school or school-related events on a
regular basis, but does not include a transit bus or a school-chartered bus;

C. "School-Chartered Bus" means a bus that is operated under a short-term
contract with the school authorities who have acquired exclusive use of the
bus at a fixed charge in order to provide transportation for a group of pupils
to a special school related event;

D. "Secretary" means the Secretary of Transportation and Communication;
E. "Seat Belts" refer to the combined lap belt and shoulder strap that fasten a

rider to a moving vehicle and prevent him or her from being thrown out or
against the interior of the vehicle during sudden stops.

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SEC. 4. Special License for School Bus Drivers.

A. Qualifications: Subject to the following minimum standards, the DOTC
shall, not later than one (1) year after the date of enactment of this Act,
prescribe qualifications to apply for special licenses of school bus drivers
and conductors:

a. Must be at least eighteen (18) years old;

b. Must be physically and mentally fit to work and operate a
motor vehicle;

c. Must not be a drug user or an alcoholic;

d. Must not be afflicted with any contagious disease, eplipesy,
or any other medical condition which may affect motor
skills;

. Must be able to read and write in Filipino or English; and

f. Must be clean, neat and presentable.

B. Requirements: Subject to the following minimum requirements, the DOTC
shall, not later than one (1) year after the date of enactment of this Act,
prescribe requirements before the issuance of special license for school bus
drivers and special license for school bus conductors:

a. Properly accomplished application form for special license
of school bus drivers or special license of school bus
conductors, as the case may be;

b. Medical certificate issued by any licensed physician
practicing in the Philippines;

c. Original birth certificate or NSO authenticated birth
certificate with official receipt and 1 photocopy;

d. Valid student driver’s permit;

e. NBI clearance; and

f. Police clearance;

C. Additional Certification Requirement: Before the issuance of the special
license for school bus drivers or operators, the applicant must show proof of
having completed the following certification programs to be facilitated by
the Department:

a. Course on basic first aid training and emergency response
protocols;

b. Course on security management; and

c. Course on proper student management and child behavior.

The certification courses shall be regularly taken by school bus drivers and/or

conductors as a continuing requirement. The regularity by which the courses
are to be required shall be prescribed by the Department.

D. Demonstration of Proficiency. Each school bus driver and/or school bus
conductor shall demonstrate at such interval as the Secretary shall prescribe,

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to the employer-school/s of the driver, or other person or agency responsible
for regulating school bus drivers as may be established by the Department,
the proficiency of such drivers in operating a school bus in accordance with
this Section.

SEC. 5. Seat Belts in School Buses.

A. Requirement for Installation. - Not later than one (1) year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe regulations requiring
driver seat belts and passenger seat belts (including lap safety belts or other
child safety devices, meeting applicable government safety standards) for
each seating position in any newly manufactured schoo! bus. Owners of
school buses which are not currently equipped with seat belts shall be given
a period of six (6) months from the publication of the regulations by the
Secretary to install the necessary seat belts in their school buses.

B. Promotion of Seat Belt Usage.

1, In General. - The Secretary, in consultation with appropriate safety
organizations and parent-teacher organizations, shall conduct a program
to promote and encourage the use of seat belts in school buses.

2. Elements of the Program. - In conducting the program required under
this subsection, the Secretary shall -

a. Encourage local government units to monitor the mandatory usage
of seat belts in school buses;

b. Develop and disseminate educational materials on the importance
of using seat belts to passengers and drivers of school buses; and

c. Recognize in an appropriate manner the schools that achieve a
high level of seat belt usage by passengers and drivers of school
buses.

SEC. 6, Emergency Exit and Other Emergency Equipment in School Buses.

A. Emergency Exit Door. - Every school bus shall have safe emergency exits
at the back end of the bus other than the regular ingress/egress door at the
usually located at the front or at the middle of the bus. The emergency
exits shall be properly indicated as such and shall always be maintained in
such a way that it shall always be safe for the passenger-students and can
only be used in case of actual emergency situations.

B. Emergency Equipment. — Every school bus shall also have functioning
emergency equipment such as, but not limited to, fire extinguishers, first
aid kits, emergency lights, etc. Such facilities shall be stored inside the bus
in such a way that it shall always be safe for the passenger students and
can only be used in case of actual emergency situations.

SEC. 7. Registration. - No school bus shall be allowed to acquire, maintain and
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 for
the enforcement of the provisions of this Act. The Secretary may provide for a reasonable
period for public notice and comment consistent with ensuring expeditious but full
implementation of the prescribed safety requirement of this Act.

SEC. 9. Separability Clause. - Should any provision of this Act be declared invalid
or unconstitutional, the validity or constitutionality of the other provisions shall not be
affected thereby.

SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of
this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

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