HOUSE. OF REPRES!

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

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HOUSE BILL NO.

RECEINED

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Introduced by Congressman Alfredo D. Vargas III

EXPLANATORY NOTE

According to the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Philippines
has recorded 1,513 deaths due to road accidents in 2013. The World Health
Organization, on the other hand, has estimated a much higher number of 10,379
road traffic deaths in the Philippines in 2015.

Highly susceptible to road accidents are the 23.9 million school children? in
the Philippines, many of which ride in school buses to and from their schools

The State values life and so shall take all means necessary to ensure the
safety of Filipino students

This bill empowers the Department of Transportation to prescribe safety
standards for school buses, set proficiency measures for school bus drivers, require
the installation and use of seatbelts in school buses, and determine the

practicability and feasibility of certain safety and access requirements for school
buses.

In ensuring that our students are safe from vehicular accidents, we are. ina
way, safeguarding the future development of our nation. Thus, the immediate

approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
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* Department of Education Data, School Year 2014-15

BILLS AND (NDEX SERVICE


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

a1?

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Congressman Alfredo D. Vargas III

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:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be called the “School Bus Safety Act of

2016".

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby the policy of the State to

promote safety
accidents.

in order to protect passengers of school buses from injury in case of

SECTION 3. Definitions of Terms. - For purposes of this Act the term

(a)

(8)

(c)

(D)
(E)

“Bus” means a motor vehicle with motive power, except a trailer,
designed for carrying more than ten (10) persons;

“School Bus” means a bus that is used for purposes that include
carrying students to and from public or private school or school-
related events on a regular basis, but does not include a transit bus
or a school-chartered bus

“School-Chartered Bus" means a bus that is operated under a short
term contract with the school authorities who have acquired
exclusive use of the bus at a fixed charge in order to provide
transportation for a group of pupils to special school related events;

“Secretary” means the Secretary of Transportation

“Seat Belts” refer to the combined lap belt and shoulder strap that
fasten a rider to a moving vehicle and prevent him from being
thrown out or against the interior of the vehicle during sudden
stops;


SECTION 4. Proficiency Standards for School Bus Drivers. ~

(A) Requirement, - Not later than one (1) year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe proficiency
standards for school bus drivers who are required to possess a
professional license to operate a school bus

(B) Demonstration of Proficiency. - Upon the prescription of standards
under paragraph (A), each school bus driver referred to in paragraph
(A) shall demonstrate at such interval as the Secretary shall
prescribe to the employer of the driver, the school, the licensing
agency, or other person or agency responsible for regulating school
bus drivers, the proficiency of such drivers in operating a school bus,
in accordance with the proficiency standards prescribed under
paragraph (A) or the proficiency standards established by the State
concerned, as the case may be

SECTION 5. Seat Belts in School Buses. -

(A) Requirement for Installation. - Not later than one (1) year after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe
regulations requiring driver seat belts and passenger seat belts
(including lap safety belts or other child safety devices meeting
applicable government safety standards) for each seating position in
any newly manufactured school bus. Owners of school buses which
are not currently equipped with seat belts shall be given a period of
six (6) months from the publication of the regulations by the
Secretary to install the necessary seat belts in their school buses.

(B) Promotion of Seat Belt Usage. ~

(1) in General. - The Secretary, in consultation with appropriate
safety organizations and parent-teacher organizations, shall
conduct a program to promote and encourage the use of seat
belts in school buses

(2) Elements of Program. - In conducting the program required
under this subsection, the Secretary shall ~

(a) Encourage the local governments to monitor the
mandatory usage of seat belts in school buses;


(b) Develop and disseminate educational materials on the
importance of using seat belts to passengers and drivers
of school buses; and

(©) Recognize, in an appropriate manner, schools that
achieve a high level of seat belt usage by passengers and
drivers of school bus.

SECTION 6. Determination of Practicability and Feasibility of Certain Safety
and Access Requirements for School Buses. -

(A) Commencement of Rulemaking Process. - Immediately upon the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall begin a rule-making
process to determine the feasibility and practicability of a
requirement for a decrease in the flammability of the material
used in the construction of the interiors of school buses.

(B) Final Rule. - Not later that one (1) year after such date, the
Secretary shall promulgate a final rule providing for any
requirement or standard that the Secretary determines to be
feasible and practicable

SECTION 7. Registration. - No school bus shall be allowed to acquire,
maintain and renew registration unless it is equipped with the necessary seat belts.

SECTION 8. Implementing Authority. - The Secretary shall be primarily
responsible for the enforcement of the provisions of this Act. The Secretary may
provide, for a reasonable period, public notices and comments consistent with
ensuring the expeditious but full implementation of the prescribed safety
requirement of this Act.

SECTION 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law of the provision not otherwise
affected, shall remain valid and subsisting

SECTION 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 provision of this Act is hereby repealed.
modified or amended accordingly.

SECTION 11. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulations.

Approved,