Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Persons with disabilities deserve to enjoy the same rights as others do in our society. They should 
be able to live freely and independently as possible. Out of 92.1 million household population of 
the Philippines in 2010, 1.443 million are persons with disabilities. On a daily basis, 15 out of the 
50 people we interact with would be persons with disabilities.  
United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities stresses on the need for 
State Parties to take appropriate measures and enforce mechanisms to enable the full and 
effective participation and inclusion of PWDs in society.  
Mobility is a vital means by which people participate in a society, it is incumbent upon the state 
to make streets and roads more accessible especially for visually impaired or blind people. As 
visually impaired or blind people could not perceive visual signals it only makes sense to 
incorporate additional devices which would assist them in traversing streets and intersections 
more confidently. In this regard, this measure seeks to introduce accessible pedestrian signals 
(APS) which are device affixed to traffic signal poles that communicates information about the 
“WALK” and “DON’T WALK” intervals at signalized intersections in non-visual formats, such as 
audible, tactile, vibrotactile and other visible methods in order to provide crossing information to 
all pedestrians, including people who are blind or visually impaired. 
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good of the 
Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
REP. JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
April 30, 2021
8:03 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING TRAFFIC SIGNAL POLE TO BE EQUIPPED WITH ACCESSIBLE 
PEDESTRIAN SIGNALS 
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 “Accessible Pedestrian Signals Act.” 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. – Persons with disabilities are part of the Philippine society, thus, 
the State shall give full support to the improvement of their total well-being and integration into 
the mainstream of society. Towards this end, the State shall adopt policies ensuring the self-
reliance of this vulnerable segment of our population.  
Sec. 3. Accessible Pedestrian Signal. – Accessible Pedestrian Signal (APS) is defined as a 
device affixed to traffic signal poles that communicates information about the “WALK” and “DON’T 
WALK” intervals at signalized intersections in non-visual formats, such as audible, tactile, 
vibrotactile and other visible methods in order to provide crossing information to all pedestrians, 
including people who are blind or visually impaired.  
When an APS uses audible tones, it shall have a specific tone for the walk interval and clearance 
phases utilizing internationally recognized standards. 
Two distinct sounds shall be used for the WALK phase: one distinct sound for the North/South 
crossing and another distinct sound for the East/West crossing. In addition, there shall be a 
distinct sound for the North/Sound clearance phase and another distinct sound for the East/West 
clearance phase. The tones shall be at least two (2) decibels and no more than five (5) decibels 
greater than the ambient noise level, must be sensitive to level changes, and must be audible to 
the mid-point of the crossings. 
Sec. 4. Installation of APS. – Subsequent to the effectivity of this Act, all new traffic signal 
poles that have yet to be installed shall be equipped with and APS. For existing traffic signal poles, 
and APS shall be installed in an order of priority following a criteria set by the Department of 
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Public Works and Highways (DPWH), which shall give preference to locations most populated by 
Persons with Disabilities.  
 
Sec. 5. Duty-free Importation. – The DPWH shall certify APS devices and parts that are 
unavailable in domestic markets and shall transmit such certification to the Department of 
Finance. The APS devices and parts so certified may be imported by any government agency or 
instrumentality exempt from taxes and duties on importation.  
 
Sec. 6. Implementing Rules. – Within ninety (90) days from the approval of this Act, the 
DPWH, in coordination with the Department of Transportation, the Department of Budget and 
Management, the Department of Finance, and the National Council on Disability Affairs shall 
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act. 
 
Sec. 7. Repealing Clause. – All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees, presidential 
proclamations, letters of instruction, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent 
with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.  
 
Sec. 8. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, 
other parts or provisions hereof not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.  
 
Sec. 9. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication in the 
official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines.  
 
Approved,