Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 1258

Introduced by HONORABLE LUIS RAYMUND F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In a transport study conducted in 2012! the Japan International Cooperation Agency
(ICA) estimated that with traffic demand of 128 million per day, traffic and congestion in
Metropolitan Manila incurs an extra transport operating cost of 2.4 billion pesos (or 51
million US dollars) daily. Without a solution to this ongoing problem, the financial and
economic losses, as JICA predicts, will likely increase to 6 billion pesos per day. And while
the rapid growth Of Metropolitan Manila is Seen in its traffic jams and gridlocks, it has
become a major urban problem for the capital city.

Number, a research and database website of user-contributed data, placed the
Philippines at the tenth (10") spot?-, below Russia, in its 2016 Mid-year report with a Traffic
Index of 199.66, stating that the average one-way travel time in Manila alone is 53.85
minutes*-. Cars account for 48.5% of the total means of transportation in Manila followed
by 18.2% of people working from home (and avoiding traffic), and 12.10/0 walking to school
or work, according to Number's data.

This bill seeks to address this problem by creating a National Traffic Engineering Center to
aid in decongesting and solving traffic concerns in Metropolitan Manila, as well as in other
major cities in the Philippines. It also mandates compulsory subject on road safety in the
Enhanced K to 12 Basic Education Program to ensure that the future drivers of the country
will be well equipped with knowledge on proper road safety and courtesy.

This is believed to be International Cooperation Agency_ "Roadman for Transport
Infrastructure _ Development for Metro Manila and Its hg races a region |V-A) a big step
towards safer and more useable roads.

This bill is likewise filed in support of bills filed granting President Rodrigo Roa Duterte
emergency powers to address the massive traffic congestion

In view of the foregoing, the early approval of this bill is earnestly requested.

LUIS RA’ mn VILLAFUERTE, JR.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS,
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, 1256

Introduced by HONORABLE LUIS RAYMUND F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT
CREATING A NATIONAL TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PLAN

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 known as the “National Traffic
Management Plan Act of 2016"

SECTION 2 Declaration of Policy — It is hereby declared the policy of the State that
the promotion of the safety and economic well-being of the people shall be pursued by
providing them the necessary facilities for safe and convenient travel.

SECTION 3, creation of the National Traffic Engineering Center. - There is hereby
created a National Traffic Engineering Center which shall be an attached agency under the
Department of Transportation.

SECTION 4, Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act, the term:

(A) "Traffic Engineering Facilities and Equipment” include traffic control systems,
geometric improvement of intersections, sidewalks and median islands, road

signs and pavement markings, pedestrian overpasses, waiting sheds and
other traffic safety amenities.

(8)'Traffic Control System" includes traffic signal, local signal controllers, vehicle
detectors, control center and related facilities and equipment such as close-
circuit television cameras and signal lanterns.

(C)'Traffic Control Signal" includes any device using a word or words, symbol or
symbols, a color light or lights or any combination thereof operated
mechanically, electrically or manually.

(D) "Local Signal Controllers" mean any equipment controlling the signal switching
time for signal lanterns from green to orange to red color based and the
‘command sent by the computer at the control center

(E) "Vehicle Detectors" include such equipment installed near signalized
intersection which measures the number and speed of vehicles and sends the
data to the computer at the control center.


(F)"Control Center” is the place which houses the central computer roam, computer
room for traffic control signals and radio communication equipment

(G) "Road traffic safety subject" means the separate subject that teaches either basic
and/or advanced safety driving, road hazards, driving rules and offenses, and
use of traffic signs,

(H) "DepEd" means the Department of Education,
("Department" shall refer to the Department of Transportation.

(J) 'UP-NCTSFI" means the University of the Philippines National Center for
Transport Studies Foundation, Inc.

SECTION §_ Relationship with the Local Goverment Units. — The Center shell
Provide technical assistance to local governments units on matters pertaining to traffic
engineering, including but not limited to, providing traffic control devices and related facilities
and equipment available at the Center and assistance in the preparation of related
documents/supporting papers and studies, preparation and/or implementation of traffic
management plans, conduct of traffic studies, and coordinative/monitoring support on traffic
engineering and management. The Center shell likewise provide the necessary technical
training to local government personnel in the operation and maintenance of traffic control
system and related facilities and equipment with the end in view of transferring the
management of the technologies and equipment to local government units,

SECTION 6. Duties and Responsibilities. The Center shall have the following duties
and responsibilities

(A)Assist in the development and implementation of policies for urban and regional
transport;

(B) Provide technical the planning, services for the planning, design, installation, and
construction. operation and maintenance of traffic engineering and management
facilities and equipment nationwide;

(C)Develop and implement a national code of standards, specifications, and operational,
guidelines for the design, installation, operation and maintenance of traffic control
systems,

(0)Assist other agencies including the local government units, in finding solutions to local
traffic problems;

(E)Review and approve all design plans for traffic engineering and management
proposed by any government agency or local government units to ensure uniform it
and standardization;

(F) Coordinate with other agencies and authorities created for special metropolitan
political subdivisions tasked with transport end traffic engineering management in the
development of comprehensive plans and strategies for urban traffic and transport;

(G)Formulate plans and programs to train and educate the motorists and the general
Public on the important use of the various traffic control facilities and other aspects of
road safety and courtesy;

(H)Conduct researches, studies and seminars on traffic engineering and management
with emphasis on accident prevention and efficient traffic control; and

(1) Receive donations from local and foreign institutions or agencies for the purpose of
carrying out its objectives.

SECTION 7. Executive Director — The Center shall be headed by an Executive
Director who shall be appointed by the President upon recommendation of the Secretary of
Transportation. The Executive Director shall have a rank equivalent to an Executive Director
V position, The Executive Director shall be assisted by two (2) Deputy Executive Directors:
one (1) Deputy Executive Director for Project Planning, Design and Implementation and one


(1) for Administration, Operations and Maintenance of Traffic Control System the Deputy
Executive Directors shall have the rank equivalent to Deputy Executive Director IV to be
appointed by the Secretary of Transportation

SECTION. 8. Genera/ Powers and Duties of the Executive Director and the Deputy
Executive Directors. —

) The general powers and duties of the Executive Director shall be
as follows.

1) __TO implement the policies, programs, projects, guidelines, procedures, rules
and regulations promulgated, prescribed, issued or adopted by the Center for urban regional
transport,

2) _ To manage the day-to-day affairs of the Center, and to ensure the operational
efficiency of the traffic engineering and management facilities and equipment nationwide;

3) To head the technical, consultative and management staff of the Center,

4) To undertake the conduct of traffic survey, planning and design of traffic
engineering and management measures and services, the conduct of transportation and
traffic related research and studies and the preparation and updating of the Code of Traffic
Management and Operations;

5) __ To determine the organization of the Center and create such functional units
therein as deemed necessary in the proper and efficient implementation of the functions end
Purposes of the Center, including recommending the appointment of officials and employees,
it being understood that the security of tenure of these workers shall be respected consisting
of existing laws; and

6) _ Performs other related functions that may be assigned by the Secretary of
Transportation and the Secretary of Public Works and Highways or as may be necessary
and the convenient for attainment of the objectives of the Center,

(B)__ The Deputy Executive Directors of the Center Shall have the
following general powers, functions and duties:
1) TO assist the Executive Director in implementing, enforcing, and applying the
policies, programs, projects, guidelines, procedures, rules and regulations promulgated,
Prescribed issued, or adopted by the Center;

2) — To assist the Executive Director in the performance of his other functions and
duties; and

3) To perform such other duties and functions as the Executive Director may
assign from time to time.

SECTION 9. Road Traffic Safety Subject. — The teaching of a separate and
compulsory subject celled Road Traffic Safety shell be included at grade six and grade
twelve of the Enhanced K to 12 Basic Education Program. This subject shall include

defensive driving, basic traffic rules, the importance of road safety, road hazards, and the
‘steps to take in case of a road accident.

SECTION 10. Implementing Agency. — The Secretary of Education is hereby

authorized and directed to adopt a system to implement and carry out the provisions of
Section 9.

SECTION 11_ Coordinating Agency. - The UP-NCTSFI is hereby authorized to assist
the DepEd in designing the teaching module on road traffic safety,

SECTION 12 Educational Materials — It shall be obligatory on all elementary and
secondary schools to keep in their libraries an adequate number of copies of the textbook,
primer, and leaflet on Road Traffic Safety to be issued by the DepEd the DepEd shall
determine the adequacy of the number of books, depending upon the enrollment of the
elementary and secondary school students.


SECTION 13 Appropriations - The amount of TWO BILLION PESOS
{P2,000,000,000.00)is hereby appropriated for the initial year of implementation of this Act_
Thereafter, such amounts as may be necessary shall be included in the General
Appropriations Act under the Department of Transportation

SECTION 14. Separability Clause — If any provision is part hereof is held Invalid or

unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain
valid and subsisting,

SECTION 15 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.

SECTION 16. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen days (15) days
afier its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.