· . 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENt1IO 
S.B .. ~. __ 
Introduced by Senator Poe 
Explanatory Note 
,Sl';fmi? 
l~ir.;< "ft~.S>,nrt.'u 
'13 
SEP 18 P1 :34 
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. 
The bill speaks for itself. This bill seeks to prescribe regulations to mitigate the effects of 
vehicular accidents by prescribing safety standards for school buses. 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Sl:'tmtf' 
(i&ff,;, "f til' ,ii' ...... b,U 
First Regular Session 
'13 
SEP 18 P 1 :34 
" 
SENATE 
S,B. 1710 
RECEIVE!) II Y: ~-r 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
J 
Introduced by Senator Poe 
AN ACT 
PRESCRIBING SCHOOL BUS SAFETY STANDARDS 
ANI) 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 may be cited as the "School Bus Safety Act of2013." 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
promote safety in order to protect passengers of school buses from injury in case of accidents. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms - For purposes of this Act the term: 
a) Bus" means a motor vehicle with motive power, except a trailer, designed for carrying 
more than 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, chattered 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) "Seats Belts" refer to the combined lap belt and shoulder strap that fasten a rider to 
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 
Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) 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 subsection (a), 
each school bus driver referred to in subsection (a) shall demonstrate (at such interval as 
the DOTC 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 driver in operating a school bus in accordance with the proficiency standards 
prescribed under subsection (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 DOTC 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 of this Act to 
install the necessary seat belts in their school buses, 
b) Promotion of Seat Belt Usage-
1) In Geneml- The DOTC, 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 
DOTC shall 
i. 
Encourage the local governments to monitor the mandatory usage of seat belts in 
school buses; 
ii. 
Develop and disseminate educational materials on the importance of using seat 
belts to passengers and drivers of school buses; and 
iii. 
Recognize in an appropriate manner school that achieve a high level of seat belt 
usage by passengers and drivers of school buses. 
SECTION 6. Registration. - No school bus shall be allowed to acquire, maintain and 
renew registration unless it is equipped with the necessary seat belts. 
SECTION 7. Implementing Authority. - The DOTC shall be primarily responsible for the 
enforcement of the provisions of this Act. For this purpose, in consultation with relevant 
government agencies and private citizens organizations and stakeholders, the DOTC shall issue 
within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the relevant implementing rules and 
regulations. 
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. 8. 
Separability Clause. - If any provision, or part here04 is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 9. 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 ofthis Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 10. Effectivity Clause. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation, whichever comes earlier. 
Approved, 
2