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

17" Congress
Second Regular Session

7438

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by: HON. LORNA C. SILVERIO-

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The number of bus or any other public transport accidents lately has come to
alarming rates that leave doubts on the safety of our public transport. In most
cases, drivers been blamed for negligence that leads to these accidents.

Under current regulations, any driver who possesses a Professional Driver’s
License duly issued by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) can drive a PUV
without regard to his skills, experience, attitude, regard for public safety and
knowledge of traffic rules and regulations which is quite dangerous as proven by
many accidents attributed mainly by human error and negligence.

In this regard, requiring LTO to establish a system that will ask for more
requirements and conduct specialized training for PUV drivers will surely pave the
way towards improving the skills, attitude and safe driving habits of public utility
drivers which will ensure the safety of the riding public. Finally, to give more
teeth to the law, stiffer penalties shall be imposed upon those who will violate the
same.

In view of the foregoing, passage of this bill is hereby earnestly sought.

Vo jtee Ge

LORNA C. SILVERIO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

17 Congress
Second Regular Session

House BILL No.__7438

Introduced by: HON. LORNA C. SILVERIO

AN ACT REQUIRING PUBLIC UTILITY DRIVERS TO SECURE A SPECIAL UTILITY
LICENSE

Be it adopted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

Section 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “Public Utility Driver's Licensing
Act”

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. It is the policy of the State to enhance the safety of
public transport by ensuring that only qualified individuals will be allowed to drive or
operate public utility buses, jeeps, and other similar modes of mass public
transportation.

Section 3. Definition of Terms. — For the purpose of interpreting the provisions of this
Act, the following terms shall mean;

A). Public Utility Bus - any mode of public transport which can carry between twenty-
five (25) to sixty-five (65) passengers;

B.) Public Utility Jeep - any mode of public transport which can carry between seven
(7) to twenty-four (24) passengers;

C.) Public Utility Tricycle — any mode of transport which can carry (1) one to six (6)
passengers.

D.) Public Utility Train — any mode of public transport which can carry sixty six (66)
Passengers or more.


E) Public Utility Operator — any natural or juridical person who owns and for operate
Public utility vehicles regardless of capacity

Section 4. Special License — All Public utility vehicles are hereby required to secure a
Utility Driver's License before being allowed to drive and ferry commuters to one place
to another.

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is hereby authorized to create a Special
Driver's Licensing Division that shall exclusively administer the Issuance and entertain
applications for the Utility Driver's Licenses.

No Public Utility Driver's License Shall be issued unless the following conditions
shall have been complied with to wit;

A, Fifteen (15) days of actual driving examinations for public utility train, (10) ten days
for bus drivers and public utilty jeeps, and (5) five days for tricycles that will show

B.) A certificate of safe driving habits to be issued by an LTO accredited Private driving
evaluation entity.

Section 5. Liability Insurance — No Public Utility Driver's License shall be issued unless
the applicant shall have purchased or contracted an insurance agreement with a reliable
insurance firm to compensate damages, injuries, or death to Passengers or third parties
in case of intentional, wrongful, negligent, or accidental injuries in the course of driving a
utility vehicle.


‘speed meter, they must immediately request the Passengers to disembark and bring the
vehicle to the repair shop to fix the necessary problem.

Section 7. Penatties — Any person whether of juridical nature or the operator who shall
have been found to be guilty violating the provisions of this Act shall be meted the
following penalties:

.) For persons driving a utility vehicle without the Necessary Utility Driver's License,
@_penalty of five (5) months imprisonment and a fine of fifty thousand
(P50,000.00);

©) For licensed utility drivers violating any traffic regulation, a penalty of three (3)
months license suspension and a fine of ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) for the
first offense, a penalty of six (6) months license suspension and a penalty of
twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00) will be meted for the second offense and
‘one (1) year license suspension and fine of fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) for
‘succeeding violations.

Aside from the penalties, violators shall be required to undergo a five (5) day
Tefresher course on safe driving. Drivers who are guilty of three consecutive
violations shall no longer be allowed to operate a public utility vehicle.

Section 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations — The Land Transportation Office
(LTO) is hereby mandated to issue the necessary implementing rules and
regulations within ninety (90) days from the approval of this Act

Section 9. Repealing Clause — All laws or parts of any law, orders, rules, and
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or
amended accordingly.

Section 10. Effectivity Clause - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

Publication in the Official Gazette or at least in two (2) newspapers of general
Circulation.

Approved,

Borah Phorac—