Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. 933 
Introduced by Hon. Bernadette S. Barbers 
AN ACT REGULATING THE USE OF SIDEWALKS AND PUBLIC ROADS IN ALL 
URBAN AREAS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to regulate the use of sidewalks and public roads which are 
meant for the utilization and enjoyment of the general public for the purpose for 
which they were built. 
It is of no secret that urban areas have become so congested that people tend 
to disregard order and do things convenient to them. Small businesses have used 
and occupied our sidewalks leaving pedestrians with no choice but to walk by the 
roadside, thus exposing them to greater risks of bodily injury and even death. 
Residents who do not have parking spaces in their houses use the streets for their 
parking lots. Business establishments which do not have ample parking spaces use 
the roads as parking lots for their own vehicles as well as their clients, thereby 
clogging the already narrow roads and impeding the free flow of traffic. Adding to the 
already chaotic situation is the proliferation of public utility terminals. Our roads are 
not built for such purposes and the taxpayers have all the right to complain. 
It is a fact that the traffic congestion in urban areas result to economic losses 
amounting to billions of pesos yearly. Should these road obstructions be cleared, 
traffic flow will ease and a more robust economy will result. 
In view of the foregoing considerations, approval of this bill is earnestly 
sought. 
HON. BERNADETTE S. BARBERS 
 2nd District, Surigao del Norte 
July 1, 2025
3:04 pm


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. 933 
Introduced by Hon. Bernadette S. Barbers 
AN ACT REGULATING THE USE OF SIDEWALKS AND PUBLIC ROADS IN ALL 
URBAN AREAS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
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 “Sidewalks and 
Public Roads Use Act”. 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It shall be the policy of the State to clear 
sidewalk and public roads from unauthorized commercial or personal use in order to 
facilitate the smooth passage of persons as well as to clear all obstructions to traffic 
and vehicular flow. Adequate sidewalk and public road must be maintained to allow 
safe pedestrian passage and ease in traffic flow that will result in a more progressive 
economy. 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. – For the purposes of this Act, the term: 
a. “Sidewalk” means a paved path for pedestrians adjacent to public roads;
b. “Public roads” means all roads built using taxpayers’ money and built for
vehicular traffic;
c. “Urban areas” means human settlement with high population density and
infrastructure of built environment;
d. “Proper authority” means the local government unit (LGU)
SEC. 4. Prohibited Acts on Sidewalks. – It shall be unlawful for anyone to 
build any edifice, stall and other similar structures, put up any business and other 
forms of obstruction, leave garbage and other junk materials, engage in ambulant 
vending, and other acts that tend to impede or obstruct the use of sidewalks which 
are meant to service pedestrians. Special permits may be issued by the proper 
authorities for the temporary use of sidewalks to conduct business such as but not 
limited to vulcanizing shops, repair shops, parking spaces, eateries, advertisement 
spaces, and other similar activities. 
SEC. 5. Prohibited Acts on Public Roads. – Without permit from the proper 
authorities, it shall be unlawful to use public roads for parking, business, public utility 
terminals, and any other activity that tend to impede the free flow of traffic. Only 
temporary activities may be issued permits for the use of public roads. In no case 
shall public roads be designated by the local government units or any government 


agency as parking spaces and/or terminals for public utility vehicles, whether for free 
of for a fee. 
 
SEC. 6. Content of the Application for Permit on Temporary Use of 
Public Road and Sidewalk. – The application for the grant of permits for the 
temporary use of sidewalks and public roads shall contain the following information: 
 
a. Full name and complete address of applicant/s; 
b. The place where he is allowed to use and the duration of such use; 
c. The purpose of such use; and  
d. If purpose of use is for selling of goods, the products he is authorized to 
sell. 
 
SEC. 7. Implementing Agency. – The municipal or city government shall be 
responsible for the implementation of the provisions of this Act. Within thirty (30) 
days from the approval of this Act, the municipal or city governments shall formulate 
implementing rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act. 
 
SEC. 8. Penalties. – The penalties for violations of the provisions of this Act 
shall be a fine ranging from One Thousand Pesos (P 1,000.00) to Ten Thousand 
Pesos (P 10,000.00), which shall accrue to the Municipal/City Treasury, and 
confiscation of the obstructions and the impounding of vehicles by the proper 
authority. 
  
 
Any permit issued shall be revoked upon violation of the requirements under 
this Act. Such revocation shall prohibit the grant of a new permit for twelve (12) 
months from the date of the conviction. 
  
SEC. 9. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part hereof is held invalid 
or constitutional, the remained of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
remain valid and subsisting. 
 
SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. – Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary 
to, or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or 
amended accordingly. 
 
SEC. 11. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,