Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH (19th) CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO._______ 
_____________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by REP. JOSEPH STEPHEN S. PADUANO 
_____________________________________________________________________ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Around ten years ago, the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued an advisory 
against illegal drag racing.  It acknowledged racing as sort of sports, especially when 
done by organized automobile clubs and sports association, as long as it is done within 
a controlled and regulated environment, and when it is sanctioned by public 
authorities.  
On the other hand, the Justice Department also emphasized its danger “when 
conducted in public streets, highways, and thoroughfares without permits and without 
regard to safety of motorists, spectators and innocent third parties”, wherein it will be 
considered as a punishable act.  
The advisory further emphasized the harm of such activity, from physical to 
damages of private and public property, such as nearby establishments, government 
facilities, and other possible damages due to untoward incidents resulting from this 
kind of race. 
In 2019, the 18th Congress approved House Bill 8916 entitled “An Act 
Prohibiting Drag Racing in Public Roads and Prescribing Penalties for Violation 
Thereof and for other Purposes” with this Representation as one of the authors, among 
other principal authors, of the said measure.  It was approved on Third and Final 
reading and was transmitted to the Senate for appropriate actions.  However, it was not 
enacted into law.  With these considerations, this Representation wishes to file this 
similar bill at the current Congress. 
Hence, the approval of this measure is earnestly sought. 
 JOSEPH STEPHEN S. PADUANO 
August 25, 2022
12:51 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH (19th) CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO._______ 
_____________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by REP. JOSEPH STEPHEN S. PADUANO 
_____________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT 
DEFINING ILLEGAL DRAG RACING AND PRESCRIBING PENALTIES THEREFOR 
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 the “Illegal Drag Racing Ban 
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Act” 
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SEC.  2. Declaration of Policy. – The State shall promote the general welfare and safety 
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of both pedestrians and motorists and, hence, shall outlaw the practice of illegal drag racing that 
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jeopardizes road safety. 
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SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act, 
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(a) Drag racing refers to a road race involving two (2) or more road vehicles driven
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side by side within a specified distance at accelerating speeds with the objective to
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outdo each other, or the employment of vehicles not necessarily driven side by side
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over a common course for the purpose of determining the relative speeds or power
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of acceleration of the vehicles;
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(b) Illegal drag racing refers to a drag racing not sanctioned or permitted by 
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government authorities.  The term also includes a race between public utility 
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vehicles randomly overtaking each other for the purpose of getting to the passengers 
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ahead of another or mere purpose of outdistancing another at speeds beyond the 
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legal speed limit of a certain road; 
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(c) Road vehicle refers to any type of motorized or electric vehicle, which uses a road, 
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street, or highway for conveyance of people or goods.  The term includes four-
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wheeled, three-wheeled, and two-wheeled vehicles but shall not include vehicles 
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classified as heavy equipment or agricultural equipment. 
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SEC. 4.  Ban on illegal Drag Racing. – Upon effectivity of this Act, no drag racing of 
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any kind shall be conducted or held on any public road, street or highway unless sanctioned by 
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the government and approved by the local government unit (LGU) having jurisdiction over the 
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venue.  Drag racing on a private road or property shall also be deemed illegal unless permitted 
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by the LGU concerned. 
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SEC. 5.  Penalties. – Any person guilty of illegal drag racing, including the promoter 
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or organizer thereof, upon conviction, shall be penalized with a fine of not less than Three 
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hundred thousand pesos (P300,000.00) nor more than Five hundred thousand pesos 
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(P500,000.00)  or imprisonment of one (1) year, or both, at the discretion of additional penalties 
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resulting from the commission of other crimes or offenses occasioned by the same act. 
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The driver’s license of a person who participated in illegal drag racing shall be 
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immediately confiscated and suspended for a period of six (6) months.  The driver’s license 
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may only be redeemed upon undergoing a seminar for proper driving and such other 
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requirements under the existing policies of the Land Transportation Office (LTO).  The 
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commission of the offense for the second time shall result in the perpetual disqualification of 
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the offender from being issued a driver’s license. 
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SEC. 6. Impounding of Vehicles Involved in Illegal Drag Racing. – Any vehicle 
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involved in illegal drag racing shall be immediately impounded.  The LTO, subject to the 
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approval of the Secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) shall provide a 
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reasonable schedule of fees for the storage of impounded vehicles. 
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SEC. 7. Assistance of Relevant Government Agencies. – To ensure the effective 
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implementation of this Act, the DOTr shall work hand-in-hand with the Department of Interior 
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and Local Government (DILG), the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Metropolitan Manila 
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Development Authority (MMDA), and the LGUs in the area of enforcement. 
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 SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). – The DOTr shall, within ninety 
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(90) days following the effectivity of this Act, promulgate the necessary rules and regulations 
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for its effective implementation.  The rules and regulations shall be crafted in consultation with 
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the DILG, the PNP, the LTO, the LTFRB, the MMDA, and other relevant government agencies 
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and private stakeholders. 
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SEC. 9. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.  
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SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, executive orders, presidential 
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issuances, and other administrative rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent 
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with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 11.  Effectivity.  – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
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in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.  
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Approved,  
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