FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
>elUth> 
{~ff"r <If tI!,~m't"'~ 
First Regular Session 
) 
'11 
JAN 31 
P 3 :13 
SEN~W64 
S.No.~~_ 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
It is common to read about bus related accidents either in Metro Manila or in the 
provinces. When one drives along EDSA, it is easy to see why that is the case. Buses are 
notorious for the reckless habits of their drivers as they swerve their way through busy traffic or 
careen through open highways. In a developing country like the Philippines, commuters would 
rather take the lower fare rates of provincial buses over the more expensive option of air travel. 
They are left at the mercy of bus drivers who are sometimes ill equipped to drive their buses for 
several straight hours just to make a living wage. Bus drivers operate their vehicles in a reckless 
and speedy manner since their income is dependent on the number of trips they make and the 
passengers they ferry in their limited hours of work. They are in effect always pressured to move 
fast to "make (he pay." This has led to a disregard of traffic laws and regulations and sometimes 
even of the safety of the bus-riding public. 
The news reports and anecdotes are supported by the hard facts. As of the end of2009, a 
total of 33,033 buses are registered with the Land Transportation Office 1 In 2008, the 
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) recorded a total of 4,825 bus accidents, 
or an average of 13 per day.2 In the first five months of 2009, 1,488 bus-related accidents were 
recorded by the MMDA. A stndy conducted by the Department of Transportation and 
Communication (DOTC) found that 85% of road accidents are due to errors made by drivers.
3 
I http://www.lto.gov.ph/Statistics/Stats2009/noofMVTypeModeLT02009.html 
2 
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http://www.gmanews.tv/storyIl7195111 O-bus-accidents-hit-metro-manila-daily 
3 http://ph.news.yahoo.com/abs/20110104/tph-bus-companies-suspended-over-fatal-a-806Ibf7.html 
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Studies show that motor vehicle crashes have a disproportionate impact on the poor and 
vulnerable in society. These are also the people with usually little influence over policy 
decisions. Poorer people comprise the majority of casualties and lack ongoing support in the 
event of long-term injury. Lower socioeconomic groups have limited access to post-crash 
emergency health care. The costs of prolonged medical care, the loss of the family breadwinner, 
the cost ofa funeral, and the loss of income due to disability can push families into poverty.4 
There is thus a need to address the problems of inadequate driver training and faulty 
system employed in the public utility bus structure in the Philippines. There is a dearth of 
competent training programs to cover the bus driving sector that must be dealt with. It will also 
help if drivers are made eligible to be paid the minimum wage to curb their irresponsible driving 
behavior. 
4 World Report on Road Traffic Injury Prevention, World Health Organization, 
http://www . who. int/vio lence _ injW'y _prevention/pub lications/road _traffic/world _report/en/ 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
~Il'mtb 
(@Ir"r of til' ~r"'I",~ 
First Regular Session 
) 
'11 
JAN 31 
P 3 :13 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
TO PROVIDE FOR A COMPETENCE ACCREDITATION 
PROGRAM FOR BUS DRIVERS AND TO REQUIRE THAT THEY 
BE PAID THE MINIMUM WAGE 
Be it'enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Competence Accreditation 
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Program and Minimum Wage for Bus Drivers Act." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to affirm labor as a 
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primary social economic force. It shall protect the rights of workers and promote their welfare. 
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The State shall also promote the development of skilled workers in all fields. 
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The State shall improve the knowledge and skills of bus drivers before they start driving 
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professionally and improve road safety through better qualified drivers. 
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SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the term: 
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(a) 
"Bus" - shall refer to a long public utility motor vehicle transporting passengers 
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over a fixed route; and 
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(b) 
"Bus driver" - shall refer to a person who operates a bus. 
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SECTION 4. Payment of Minimum Wage for Bus Drivers. - Bus drivers shall be entitled 
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to be paid the minimum wage as set by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards 
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pursuant to Republic Act No. 6727. 
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SECTION 5. Required Tests for Bus Drivers. - The following tests shall be administered 
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by the Department of Transportation and Communication for potential bus drivers: 
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(a) 
(b) 
theory and hazard perception tests; 
practical driving test; 


( c) 
Driver Accreditation of Professional Competence. 
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SECTION 6. TESDA Certification Requirement. - The Director General of the Technical 
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Education and Skills Development Authority, in consultation with the Secretary of 
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Transportation and Communication, shall develop a.certification and training program for bus 
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drivers to ensure the competence and professionalism of the sector. After completion of this 
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program, a driver deemed qualified to be a bus driver shall be issued a Driver Accreditation of 
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Professional Competence. 
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After three (3) years from the approval of this Act, only bus drivers with a 
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TESDAIDOTC accreditation shall be allowed to drive public utility buses. This is apart from the 
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requirements for obtaining a professional driver's license from the Land Transportation Office. 
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SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision, or part hereof, is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, moditied, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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