• 
• 
• 
• 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.No._UBA-
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article II, Section 13 provides that: 
SEC. 13. The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in 
nation-building and shall promote and protect their physical, 
moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being. It shall 
inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and encourage 
their involvement in public and civic affairs . 
~':'~l ~.' 1 \ ' 
, i~~ \:1 l' 1,1 ~;t' 
" ;t:n \! 
'13 
UC1 24 P 3 :30 
All over the world, thousands of children die each year in motor vehicle accidents, the 
leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages 14 and younger. Current 
law requires children younger than six years of age to be properly secured in a child passenger 
safety seat system during the operation of a motor vehicle and not to be seated in the front 
passenger's seat. This bill is intended to provide more protection for children riding in motor 
vehicles.' 
. Lw'-
~>f'.4W- J~ 
MIRIAM DEF 
SOR S~TI~d 
oN(' 
• This bill was originally 'filed during the Thirteehth Congress, First Regular Session. 
1 


.. 
I:; 1 'f ,I 
, , l 'j I IJ 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SEN~']J; 
S. No. 1l$S4 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
I 
AN ACT 
2 
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8750, ALSO KNOWN AS THE SEAT BELTS 
3 
USE ACT OF 1999, SECTIONS THREE AND FIVE 
4 
5 
6 
7 I 
8 
9 
10 
II 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
• 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
. 
. Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:' 
.. 
'. 
. 
SECTION 1. Section 5 of Republic Act No. 8750, as amended, otherwise known as the 
Seat Belts Use Act of 1999, is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"SECTION 5.' Children Prohibited to Sit in Front Seat; SPECIAL 
PROTECTION FOR CHILD PASSENGERS. - Infants and/or children with 
ages [six (6)] EIGHT (8) years and below shall be prohibited to sit in the front 
seat of any running motor vehicle. THE USE OF SPECIAL CAR SEATS OR 
CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS FOR INFANTS! CHILDREN LESS 
THAN EIGHT (8).YEARS SHALL BE MANDATORY IF THE CHILD IS 
NOT ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT IN THE BACKSEAT. IN THE 
CASE OF MOTOR VEHICLES WITHOUT 
BACKROW SEATS, 
CHILDREN AGES EIGHT (8) YEARS AND BELOW MAY BE SEATED 
IN THE FRONT SEAT, PROVIDED THAT, THE VEHICLE IS 
EQUIPPED 
WITH A CHILD 
RESTRAINT 
SYSTEM THAT IS 
MANUFACTURED AND CRAFTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE 
INTERNATIONALLY ACCEPTABLE INDUSTRY STANDARDS. IN ALL 
CASES, THE PROVISION FOR AND INST ALLA TlON OF THE CHILD 
RESTRAINT SYSTEM SHALL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE 
VEHICLE OWNER." 
1 


, 
r 
SECTION 2. Section 3 of the same law is hereby amended by adding paragraph (h) to 
2 
read as follows: 
3 
"SECTION 3. Definition o/Terms. - For pnrposes ofthis Act, the term: 
4 
xxx· 
xxx 
xxx 
·5 
(b) "CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM" SHALL REFER TO SEATS 
6 
IIOR INFANTS AND FOR CHILDREN DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY TO 
7 
PROTECT INIIANTS AND CHILDREN FROM IN.JURY OR DEATH 
8 
DURING COLLISIONS." 
9 
SECTION 3. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
10 
unconstitutional. the remainder of the Act or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
II 
valid and sUbsisting. 
12 
SECTION 4. Repealing Clause. - Sections 3 and 5 of Republic Act No. 8750, otherwise 
, 
13 • known as the Seat Belts Use Act of 1999, are hereby amended. All laws, acts, presidential 
14 
decrees, executive orders, administrative orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with or 
15 
contrary to the provisions of this Act are deemed amend~d, modified or repealed accordingly. 
16 
SECTION 5. E.ffectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
1.7 
pllblication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
2