Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. PM VARGAS 
AN ACT  
PRESCRIBING SCHOOL BUS SAFETY STANDARDS 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The World Health Organization published those deaths due to traffic 
accidents in the Philippines has reached more than 13,000 in 2020. In Metro 
Manila alone, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) 
reported that there are 227 accidents per day that have put the lives of Filipino 
citizens in danger. 
Among the highly susceptible age group to road accidents are children, 
who with the full-time face-to-face classes now travel from their homes to their 
schools and back daily. 
As the State provides to improve road safety and to protect pedestrians 
and motorists alike, this bill empowers the Department of Transportation to 
prescribe safety standards for school buses, set proficiency measures for 
school bus drivers, require the installation and use of seatbelts in school 
buses, and determine the practicability and feasibility of certain safety and 
access requirements for school buses. 
In ensuring that our students are safe from vehicular accidents, we are 
safeguarding the future development of our nation.  
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly 
sought. 
REP. PM VARGAS   
Fifth District, Quezon City 
September 14, 2022
8:19 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. PM VARGAS 
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: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be called the "School Bus Safety 
Act". 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby the policy of the State to 
promote safety in order to protect passengers of school buses from injury in 
case of accidents. 
SECTION 3. Definitions of Terms. - For purposes of 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 special school
related events;
(d)
"Seat Belts" refer to the combined lap belt and shoulder strap that
fasten a rider to a moving vehicle and prevent him from being
thrown out or against the interior of the vehicle during sudden
stops;
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(e) 
"Secretary" means the Secretary of Transportation. 
 
SECTION 4. Proficiency Standards for School Bus Drivers. – 
 
(a) 
Requirement. - Not later than one (1) year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe proficiency 
standards for school bus drivers who are required to possess a 
professional license to operate a school bus. 
 
(b) 
Demonstration of Proficiency. - Upon the prescription of 
standards under paragraph (a), each school bus driver referred 
to in paragraph (a) shall demonstrate at such interval as the 
Secretary shall prescribe to the employer of the driver, the 
school, the licensing agency, or other person or agency 
responsible for regulating school bus drivers, the proficiency of 
such drivers in operating a school bus, in accordance with the 
proficiency standards prescribed under paragraph (a) or the 
proficiency standards established by the State concerned, as 
the case may be. 
 
SECTION 5. Seat Belts in School Buses. – 
 
(a) 
Requirement for Installation. - Not later than one (I) 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 school 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 Program. - In conducting the program required 
under this subsection, the Secretary shall - 
i. 
Encourage the local governments to monitor the 
mandatory usage of seat belts in school buses; 
ii. 
Develop and disseminate educational materials on 
the importance of using seat belts to passengers 
and drivers of school buses; and 
iii. 
Recognize, in an appropriate manner, schools that 
achieve a high level of seat belt usage by passengers 
and drivers of school bus. 


 
SECTION 6. Determination of Practicability and Feasibility of Certain 
Safety and Access Requirements for School Buses. – 
 
(a) 
Commencement of Rulemaking Process. - Immediately upon the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall begin a rule-making 
process to determine the feasibility and practicability of a 
requirement for a decrease in the flammability of the material 
used in the construction of the interiors of school buses. 
 
(b) 
Final Rule. - Not later that one (1) year after such date, the 
Secretary shall promulgate a final rule providing for any 
requirement or standard that the Secretary determines to be 
feasible and practicable. 
 
SECTION 7. Registration. – No school bus shall be involved to acquire, 
maintain and renew registration unless it is equipped with the necessary seat 
belts. 
 
SECTION 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, public notices and comments 
consistent with ensuring the expeditious but full implementation of the 
prescribed safety requirement of this Act. 
 
SECTION 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety (90) 
days from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the Department of 
Transportation, in coordination with the Department of Education and other 
relevant stakeholders shall formulate the necessary rules and regulations to 
implement the provisions of this Act. 
 
SECTION 10. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law of the provision not 
otherwise affected, shall remain valid and subsisting. 
 
SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation 
contrary to or inconsistent with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, 
modified or amended accordingly. 
 
SECTION 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulations. 
 
Approved,