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

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 5315

Introduced by: Honorable Ma. Victoria V. Umali,
Representatives, A TEACHER Party-List

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 have been blamed for negligence that
leads to these accidents.

Under current regulations, any driver without the necessary experience
and inherent attitude or habit of safe driving could drive or operate public
utility vehicles. It is about time that we introduce an improved system of
allowing any person to drive or operate public utility vehicle.

Requiring a special license for public utility drivers will surely pave
the way towards improving the skills, attitude and safe driving habits of
public utility drivers due to the fact that their skills, attitude and driving
habits will be considered prior to the issuance of a public utility driver’s
license.

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

mun
MA. VICTORIA V. UMALI


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSEOF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO.__5315

Introduced by: Honorable Ma. Victoria V. Umali,
Representatives, A TEACHER Party-List

AN ACT
REQUIRING A SPECIAL LICENSE FOR PUBLIC UTULITY DRIVERS

Be it enacted 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.
Public utility tricycle ~ any mode of public transport which can carry between one (1) to six
(6) passengers.

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4) Public utility train- any mode of public transport which can carry sixty six (66) passengers or
more.

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Public utility operator- any natural or juridical person who own and/or operate public utility
vehicles regardless of capacity.


SECTION 4.Special License.- All public utility drivers are hereby required to secure a Utility
Driver’s License before being allowed to drive any form of public utility transportation.
The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is hereby mandated to create a Special Driver's
Licensing Division that will administer the issuance of Utility Driver's Licenses.
No Public Utility Driver’s License shall be issued unless the following conditions shall have
been complied with
a) Fifieen (15) days of actual driving examination for public utility train, five (5) days for bus
drivers, five (5) days for public utility jeeps, and three (3) day for tricycles that will show
the actual safe driving habits of the utility bus, jeep or tricycle driver applicant;
b) a certificate of safe driving habits issued by an accredited private driving evaluation entity

SECTION §.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.

For public utility trains, buses and jeeps, the insurance coverage shall obligate to pay each
injured passenger or third party not less than one hundred fifty thousand pesos (P150,000), or the total
cost of hospitalization or whichever is higher based on medical assessment. In case of death, the
insurance agreement shall cover the payment of three hundred thousand pesos (P300,000) for each
victim

For public utility tricycles, the insurance coverage shall obligate to pay each injured passenger
or third party not less than one hundred thousand pesos (100,000), or the total cost of hospitalization
or whichever is higher based on medical assessment. In case of death, the insurance agreement shall
cover the payment of two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000) for each victim.

SECTION 6.Speed Limit.- All public utility vehicles shall not be allowed to run faster than
sixty (60) kilometers per hour of speed. All drivers and or operators of public utility vehicles must
‘ensure that speed meters are functioning while the public utility vehicles are in operation. At the
instance that a driver or operator detects fault or malfunction of the speed meter, the driver or operator
concern must immediately request passengers to disembark and bring the vehicle to a shop for
immediate repair of speed meter.

SECTION 7.Penalties.- Any person whether natural or juridical, driver, or operator who shall
be found guilty of violating the provisions of this Act shall be meted the following penalties:
a) For persons driving a public utility vehicle without the necessary Utility Driver's License,
a penalty of three (3) months imprisonment and a fine of fifty thousand pesos (PS0,000);


b) 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 a one (1) year license suspension
and a fine of fifty thousand pesos (PS0,000.00) for succeeding violations

Aside from the penalties, violators will be required to undergo a five (5) day refresher course

on safe driving. Drivers who are guilty of five violations shall no longer be allowed to drive or

‘operate a public utility vehicle.

SECTION 8. Implementing Rules and Regulation... The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is

hereby mandated to issue the necessary implementing rules and regulation 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. Efectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation,

Approved,