NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session
)
SENATE 
S. No. 2958
M 27
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
PRESCRIBING SCHOOL BUS SAFETY STANDARDS AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In a countty where road congestion has become a daily struggie, according to 
the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), there has been a significant increase in road 
traffic accidents, injuries, and deaths over the past few years. The lack of regulated 
safety standards for school buses and drivers exposes students to unnecessary risks, 
jeopardizing their weil-being.
This measure addresses these challenges by mandating stricter safety 
protocols, such as driver training and the mandatory instaliation of seat belts, ensuring 
that school transportation is secure and reliable. It also seeks to institutionalize safety 
as a non-negotiable component of school bus operations and emphasizes compliance 
with modern vehicle safety standards and introduces accountabiiity for transport 
providers, prioritizing child welfare and aligning with giobai standards on road safety.
The bill not only seeks to protect students from unsafe school bus, but also 
aims to foster pubiic trust in schooi transportation services, ensuring that parents and 
guardians can entrust their children's safety without hesitation.


This initiative reflects the government's unwavering commitment in creating 
safer educationai environments and promoting sustainabie development. The safety 
and security of our students are not just priorities but are foundational to our national 
progress. By ensuring that our students are protected during their daily commute, we 
are investing in the future of our nation. Safe and secure educational environments 
foster better learning conditions, which in turn produce well-rounded and educated 
citizens who will drive our country's development forward.
In this light, the immediate passage of this bill is highly recommended.
Y EJERCITO ESTRADA


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Third Regular Session 
)
z5 ,J!\N 27 P 2 •04
SENATE
S. No. 2958
,o»'.
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
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 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title- This Act shall be known as the "School Bus Safety Act".
2 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
3 
promote safety in order to protect passengers of school buses from injury in case of
4 
accidents.
5 
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms- For purposes of this Act the terms:
6 
a) Bus means a motor vehicle, except a trailer, designed for carrying more than
7 
ten (10) persons;
8 
b) School Bus means a bus that is used for purposes that include carrying
9 
students to and from public or private school or school-related events on a
10 
regular basis, but does not include a transit bus or a school-chartered bus;
11 
c) School-Chartered Bus means a bus that is operated under a short-term
12 
contract with the school authorities who have acquired exclusive use of the
13 
bus at a fixed charge in order to provide transportation for a group of pupils
14 
to a special school related event; and
15 
d) Seats Beits refer to the combined lap belt and shoulder strap that fasten a
16 
rider to moving vehicle and prevent the rider from being thrown out or against
17 
the interior of the vehicle during sudden stops.


1 
Sec. 4. Proficiency Standards for Schooi Bus Drivers. -
2 
a) Requirement- Not later than one (1) year after the date of enactment of this
3 
Act, the Department of Transportation shall prescribe proficiency standards for
4 
school bus drivers who are required to possess a professional license to operate
5 
a school bus.
6 
b) Demonstration of Proficiency- Upon the prescription of standards under
7 
subsection (a), each school bus driver referred to in subsection (a) shall
8 
demonstrate (at such interval as the Department of Transportation shall
9 
prescribe) to the employer of the driver, the school, the licensing agency, or
10 
other person or agency responsible for regulating school bus drivers the
11 
proficiency of such driver in operating a school bus in accordance with the
12 
proficiency standards prescribed under subsection (a) or the proficiency
13 
standards established by the State concerned, as the case may be.
14 
Sec. 5. Seat Beits in Schooi Buses. -
15 
a) Requirement for Installation- Not later than one (1) year after the date of the
16 
enactment of this Act, the Department of Transportation shall prescribe regulations
17 
requiring driver seat belts and passenger seat belts (including lap safety belts or other
18 
child safety devices meeting applicable government safety standards) for each seating
19 
position in any newly manufactured school bus. Owners of school buses which are not
20 
currently equipped with seat belts shall be given a period of six (6) months from the
21 
publication of the regulations of this Act to install the necessary seat belts in their
22 
school buses,
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b) Promotion of Seat Belt Usage-
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1) In General- The Department of Transportation, in consultation with
25 
appropriate safety organizations and parent-teacher organizations, shall conduct a
26 
program to promote and encourage the use of seat belts in school buses.
27 
2) Elements of Program- In conducting the program required under this
28 
subsection, the Department of Transportation shall:
29 
i. 
Encourage the local governments to monitor the mandatory usage of
30 
seat belts in school buses;
31 
ii. 
Develop and disseminate educational materials on the importance of
32 
using seat belts to passengers and drivers of school buses; and


1 
Hi. Recognize schoois that achieve a high ievei of seat beit usage by
2 
passengers and drivers of schooi buses.
3 
Sec. 6. Registration - No schooi bus shaii be aiiowed to be registered uniess it is
4 
equipped with the necessary seat beits.
5 
Sec. 7. Impiementing Authority - The Department of Transportation shaii be
6 
primariiy responsible for the enforcement of the provisions of this Act. For this
7 
purpose, the Department of Transportation, in consuitation with relevant government
8 
agencies and private citizens organizations and stakehoiders, shaii issue within ninety
9 
(90) days from the effectivity of this Act the reievant impiementing ruies and
10 
regulations.
11 
Sec. 8. Separabiiity Cause. - If any part, section or provision of this Act is
12 
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the sections or provisions which are not affected
13 
shaii remain valid and subsisting.
14 
Sec. 9. Repeating Cause. - Ali iaws, decrees, executive orders, ordinances,
15 
ruies, reguiations, other issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this
16 
Act, are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.
17 
Sec. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shaii take effect fifteen (15) days after its
18 
complete publication in the Officiai Gazette or in a newspaper of generai circuiation.
Approved,