Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
‘Second Regular Session

8368

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT
PRESCRIBING SCHOOL BUS SAFETY STANDARDS:
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

It is the objective of the state to promote public safety in the transportation of passengers,
particularly school children. To achieve this objective, it is essential that the state shall
prescribe minimum design standards of school buses for the safety of the student
passengers.

This bill seeks to prescribe regulations to mitigate the effects of vehicular accidents by
prescribing safety standards for school buses.

LUIS RAYM 'LRAY” F/V/LLAFUERTE, JR.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL no. 2368

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT
PRESCRIBING SCHOOL BUS SAFETY STANDARDS
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act may be cited as the “School Bus Safety Act”.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy.- It is hereby the policy of the State to promote safety
in order to protect passengers of school buses from injury in case of accidents.

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

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

(B) “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;

(C) “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 a special
school-related event;

(D) “Secretary” means the Secretary of Transportation and Communication;

(E) “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 govemment 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 school 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 rulemaking 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 than 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 for public notice and comment
consistent with ensuring expeditious but full implementation of the prescribed safety


requirement of this Act.

SECTION 9. Separability Clause.- If any provisions, or part hereof, is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or 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 circulation.

Approved,