EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session. 
)
SENATE
1467
Jennie
'(©{{tee of t|jf
20 MAY “
S. No.
BFf Fivro BY
Introduced by SENATOR LEILA M. DE LIMA
AN ACT
PROVIDING MEASURES TO ENSURE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AND 
CONVENIENCE AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS
THEREOF
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Road traffic injuries are now the leading killer of people aged 5-29 according to 
the Global status report on road safety 2018. The same report revealed that more than 
1.35 million people die from road-related incidents eveiy year globally.
In the nation’s capital alone, the Metro Manila Accident Recording and analysis 
System (MMARAS) recorded 394 fataUties and 19,374 injured in road accidents in 
2017, with 44% of the deaths and 24% of those injured being pedestrians. What is 
extremely disturbing is that an average of 670 children has perished each year from 
road accidents starting from 2006 to 2015. The 2018 MMARAS document, however, 
recorded fewer fatalities in 2018 than in 2017, which logged 383 recorded cases as
compared to 394 incidents in 2017. Despite the small improvement, it should be 
underscored that the number is still high.
A World Health Organization (WHO) report identified traffic injuries as the 
•leading killer” of children and young people aged s to 29 around the world. Said 
report recognized that ‘the Philippines is progressing in the area of road safety 
management but post-crash or pre-hospital must also be improved to save more lives 
on the road.”' It was likewise observed that motorists do not consider pedestrians as
21 December
PhiliPDlnes-who-repnri- ' 
---------------21/18/road-traffic-deaths-continue-to-rise-in-thA-


road users. Ms reduces the attenUou and cam supposedly observed towards 
. pedestnans and therefore results to high-risk of safety concerns.
A 2016 study, entitled ‘Severity of road crashes involving pedestrians in Metro 
Man, a showed that ‘...haffic crashes that involve heavy and multiple vehicles 
an e derly pedestnan (6o years old and above), as well as those that occurred during 
evening (7 pm to midnight) and late at night (i am to 5 am) have significantlv 
i^er odds of resulting in fatal outcome”. The study likewise revealed that the area 
rTd 8 “ 0f 
babPen on high-speed, high-uaffic volume, multilane
;:::r:“ch has a ““y 
vehicart:
A 2016 article by VERA Kies expounds that there am four risk areas that affect 
■ ^ estnan safety on the road: driver attitude, pedestrian attitude, rules and policies 
and en„g or infrastructure.3 These four areas, if addressed correctly can help
=r;“rarzn::;:r;r^
pedestrian-friendly. 
government to make our streets
No 4i3r -urdT eXiSan8 IaWS and POlideS 0n r0ad Safety’such « Act
“Seat Belte Use A^f 
C°de ' RePUbliC ACt N0' 875°’ OT
of 2009”, RepuWk Act^No. i0586bo: fte 
"^0t0rCy^e He^et Act
2or3”,. Republic Act No. 1066, or di ‘S 
Dmgged M'dn® Ac‘
. andtherecentlypassedRepubhcActNo loS
2016”, there has vet to i 
, 
9 3’ the Antl"Dlstracted Driving Act of
citizens who traverse public3 3W rGC 7 Pr°teCting the pedestrians or the ordinary
considered as a chronic crisis in the countrv 
.
are occurring on a dflilvhtaci-o i i 
ountry. Different scenanos
>ar*e chunk of a busy rld ZI^ 
* ^ ^ 
a
y road, the pubhc runmng to get on a speeding public vehicie and


motorists carelessly rushing to get to their destination to avoid getting late. With aU 
t esc, It IS apparent that it is a system that needs to be urgently fixed. •
This bill enumerates the rights and duties of every pedestrian and provides for
, the pendfes for its violation, both on the part of the pedestrians and motorists.
narguably, road accidents are not only caused by erring motorists who refuse to
o ow the Traffic Code and give way to pedestrians, but likewise by pedestrians who 
Stubbornly place themselves in harm’s way.
To address the fourth risk area, this bill likewise proposes to declare all 
obstructions found along sidewalks and public roads as nuisance per se. In such 
manner, local governments may subject these nuisances to summary abatement in 
or er to .mmediately clear out roads and guarantee si* and convemL passagT^ 
o pedestnans and motorists. To protect against undue deprivation Of property the
owner of the property declared as nuisance shaU be given an opportunity to prevent 
summary abatement by going to court.
Finally government is given the duty to provide for sidewalks when there are 
one clear the obstructions thereat, install signs whenever there are construction 
ac m Its eing conducted, and effectively disseminate the provisions of this bill.
Early passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
LEILA M. DE LIMA


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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No.1467
20 MAY-4 P12:l1
RECEIVED BV: „
Introduced by SENATOR LEILA M. DE LIMA
AN ACT
PROVIDING MEASURES TO ENSURE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AND
CONVENIENCE AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS
THEREOF
CongrSs Semwidf Senaf6 H0USe °f RePresentatives °f the Philippines in
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Pedestrian Safety Act 
of 2020.”
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
provide safe travel for both pedestrians and motorists. To this end, the State shaU 
ensure that pubUc roads and sidewalks are free of obstructions at all times and
promote the adherence to who has the right-of-way in accordance with established 
traffic rules and regulations.
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - For the purposes of this Act, the following terms 
are defined as:
a) Pedestrian lane or Crosswalk. - refers to (a) That part of a public road at 
an intersection included within the connections of-the lateral lines of the 
sidewalks on opposite sides of the highway, measured from the curbs or, in 
the absence of curbs, from the edges of the traversable public road; or (b) 
Any portion of a public road at an intersection or elsewhere distinctly 
indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other markings on the surface;
b) Pedestrian. - refers to a person on foot or on light personal conveyance 
devices such as roller skates, skateboards, and other similar means, other 
than bicycles and scooters and the like. A pedestrian can also be a person


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with a disabiUty using a tricycle, quadricycle, or wheelchair for 
transportation;
c) Public Roads. - refers to all streets, roads, bridges, highways and other 
thoroughfares constructed and maintained by the national government or 
by any local government unit; Provided, That any road or sidewalk not 
falhng under this definition but which, upon determination by the 
appropriate local government unit, is deemed vital to pedestrian access or 
safety, shafi be deemed a pubUc road or sidewalk for the purposes of this Act;
d) Sidewalks. - refers to all specific areas running parallel to both sides of a 
pubhc road, with a width and elevation as may be deemed appropriate for 
safe and convenient pedestrian passage by the appropriate local government 
umt in consultation with the Department of Public Works and Highways 
CDPWH); Provided, That for pubUc roads which, for reasons of lack of land 
area, easement or legal right protected by law, may not be provided with 
sidewalks, the appropriate local government unit shall designate passing 
lanes which may be lesser in dimension than regular sidewalks but which 
shall, m eveiy case, be adequate for safe and convenient pedestrian passage-
el Obstruction. - refers to any structure, permanent or otherwise, movable or 
unmovable, erected along, standing on, abutting or in any manner
impeding safe andconvenient passage through anypubUcioadorsidewalk
shall be deemed an obstruction subject to summary abatement under this
Act; Provided, That property of the government including structures erected
or installed for the purpose of regulating the flow of traffic shall not be 
deemed obstructions;
0 Informal Settler Families - coUectively leferred to as “ISPs’, refers to
omeless families living in informal settlements, danger areas and public 
spaces such as roads and sidewalks.
rights a'nld* and DUtieS 0fPedeStrianS- - 
have the following
A. Pedestrian crossing in general.
1. Where sidewalks are provided, pedestrians shall, unless required by 
other circumstances, walk along sidewalks. No pedestrian shall walk 
a ong and upon the portion of a pubUc road paved for vehicular traffic;


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2. Where sidewalks are not provided, a pedestrian walking along and upon 
a public road shall, when practicable, walk only on the shoulder on the 
left side of the roadway in relation to the pedestrian’s direction of travel, 
facing traffic which may approach from the opposite direction;
3- No person upon roller skates, or riding in or by means of any coaster, toy, 
vehicle, or similar device, may go upon any public road except while 
crossing a street on a crosswalk; and, when so crossing, such person shall
be granted all rights and shall be subject to aU of the duties applicable to 
pedestrians;
4. The driver of a vehicle at any crosswalk where a sign so indicates shall 
stop and remain stopped to allow a pedestrian to cross a public road 
when the pedestrian is in a crosswalk or pedestrian lane or steps into the 
lane and is upon the half of the public road upon which the vehicle is 
travelling or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the 
opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger;
5. When traffic control signals are not in place or in operation and no sign 
indicates otherwise, the driver of the vehicle shaU yield, slowing down or 
stopping if need be to so yield, to a pedestrian crossing the road within a 
marked crosswalk or when the pedestrian is upon the half of the public 
road upon which the vehicle is travelling or when the pedestrian is
approaching so closely from the opposite half of the public road as to be 
in danger;
6. No pedestrian shaU suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and
walkor run into thepathofavehiclewhich is so close that itis impossible
for the driver to yield;
7. When a vehicle is stopped at a crosswalk to permit a pedestrian to cross 
the public road, the driver of any other vehicle approaching from the rear 
shall not overtake and pass such stopped vehicle;
8. A pedestrian may not cross an intersection diagonally except where and 
when crossing is authorized by official traffic control devices;
9. Where a sidewalk is provided and its use is practicable. It Is unlawful for 
any pedestnan to walk along and upon an adjacent roadway,
10. Where neither a sidewalk nor a shoulder Is'avaUable, any pedestrian 
walking along and upon a highway shall walk as near as practicable to an


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outside edge of the public road and, if on a tworway public road, shall 
walk only on the left side of the road;
11. Where an overhead pedestrian crossing or pedestrian tunnel is provided, 
pedestrians, other than PWDs and the elderly, shall make use of the 
overhead pedestrian crossing or the pedestrian tunnel;
12. The driver of a public utility vehicle (PUV) must, at all times, load and
unload passengers along the sidewalk in marked loading and unloading 
stops; and
13- Notwithstanding other provisions of this section or of a local ordinances, 
a dnvcr of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with a 
pedestrian, give warning by the sounding'the horn when necessary, and 
exercise proper caution on observing a child or any obviously confused, 
incapacitated or intoxicated person..
B. Pedestrian crossing by visually or mobility impaired pedestrians.
1. When a pedestrian is trying to cross a pubUc road or highway, guided by 
a dog gurde or carrying in a raised or extended position a cane or walking 
stick, ah approaching driver is obliged to bring his vehicle to a full stop 
before arriving at such intersection or place of crossing and, before
proceedrng, shall take such precautions as may be necessary to avoid 
injuring such a pedestrian; and
2. If a mobility impaired person, as when he/she uses a guide dog or service 
animal, a walker, a crutch, an orthopedic cane, or a wheelchair, is in the 
process of crossmg a roadway at an intersection, a driver approaching 
the mtersection must stop before arriving at the intersection and take 
reasonably precautions to avoid injuring such a pedestrian.
Sec. 5. Obstructions as nuisance per se. - All obstructions along pubUc roads 
and sidewalks are hereby presumed or declared nuisances per se and, as such, are 
subject to summaiy abatement without need of judicial proceedings; Provided, That 
temporary housing structures built along pubUc roads and sidewalks during naturai
calamities shaU not be declared nuisances per se until the lifting of the declaration of
a state of calamity by the local government unit concerned; Provided, further, that the
said temporary housing structures wiU not hamper or otherwise delay anygovernment 
services during such calamities.


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Sec. 6. SummaTy Abatement. - All local government units other than 
barangays, are hereby authorized to summarily abate any obstruction found within 
their respective territorial jurisdictions: Provided, That where the obstruction is an 
ISF housing structure, its abatement shall be done in accordance with Section 28 and 
other relevant provisions of Republic Act No. 7279, otherwise known as the “Urban 
Development and Housing Act"; Provided, further, That where the obstruction is 
immovable, permanent and claimed by any person to be his private property, its 
abatement shall be done only after a non-extendible five-day period from notice to 
such person of the intended abatement within which such person may show cause why 
the abatement should not ensue: Provided, finally. That where such a person files an 
action in any court against the intended abatement, he shall furnish a bond to the local 
government unit concerned, in an amount thrice the estimated value, if any, of the 
structure but m no case not less than Five Thousand Pesos (P5,ooo.oo), which bond
shall be forfeited in the event the suit is found groundless.
Sec. 7. Remedies to Compel Compliance. - Any person may file, without need 
to pay any bond or filing fee, a petition for mandamus directed against the appropriate 
local government unit to compel such unit to summarily abate any specified 
obstruction within its territorial jurisdiction: Provided, That such person has 
previously asked, m writing, the chief executive of the local government unit concerned, 
for such summary abatement and that said chief executive has not acted on the matter
within fifteen (15) days from receipt thereof or has determined that summary 
abatement is not proper.
In the event that the local government unit has determined that summary 
abatement is not proper, any person may file the proper action in court respecting 
abatement of nuisance unless the petition for mandamus in the preceding paragraph 
has been filed, in which case, said petition shall proceed as an ordinary action for 
abatement of nuisance. Said petition shall be without prejudice to and shall not affect 
any claim for damages as provided in Section 10 hereof.
Sec. 8. Penalties. -
(A) Persons found guilty of violation of the rights and duties of pedestrians 
as enumerated in Section 4 hereof shall be penalized with a fine of not less than Three 
Thousand Pesos (P3,ooo.oo) but not more than Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20,ooo.oo)


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or imprisonment of not less than one (i) month but not more than six (6) months, or 
both at the discretion of the court; and
(B) The penalty contained herein is without prejudice to the award of 
damages to the aggrieved party, as may be proven during trial. The institution of a 
criminal action shall impliedly include the civil action, unless a separate civil action
has been filed or a reservation for the filing of such action is m'ade in accordance with 
the Rules of Court.
Sec. 9. Duty ofLGU and DPWH. - It shall be the duty of the LGU concerned 
and the DPWH to:
a) Provide sidewalks in public roads within their jurisdiction for the use of 
pedestrians; Provided, That for public roads which, for reasons of lack of 
land area, easement or legal right protected by law, sidewalks may not be 
provided, the appropriate LGU shall designate passing lanes which maybe 
lesser in dimension than regular sidewalks but which shall, in every case, be 
adequate for safe and convenient pedestrian passage. The LGU and the 
DPWH shall ensure that such sidewalk is free of any-obstruction which may
endanger the safety of pedestrians or hamper free passage on the sidewalk; 
and
b) Ensure that clearly marked and visible signage are posted and conspicuously
placed to indicate on-going construction activities or repair work along 
public roads or sidewalk.
Sec. 10. Damages for Acts or Omissions Endangering Pedestrian Safety. -Any
person who suffers damage to his person or property as a result of an act or omission
by another which endangers pedestrian safety may file an action for damages against
any jundical or natural person or local government uriit responsible for such act or
omission, including but not limited to the following acts or‘omissions resulting in 
damage:
a) Failure to post a clearly marked and visible sign indicating on-going 
construction or repair work along a public road or sidewalk;
b) Failure to obtain the permits from the appropriate local government 
agencies required in undertaking repair or construction work or in 
conducting any other activity requiring the use of a public road or sidewalk;


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c) Failure to cover or provide adequate cover of any hole, ditch or digging along 
a public road or sidewalk;
d) Failure to put up or use adequate protective roofing above sidewalks or 
public roads adjacent to any construction repair site;
e) Illegal parking of any vehicle along a public road or parking on a sidewalk;
f) Destroying, removing, or in any manner tampering with any sign or notice 
indicating an existing hazard to pedestrian safety or any lamp or lamppost 
illuminating a public road or sidewalk;
g) Building or in any manner placing a connecting pipe or portion thereof on
an elevated concrete or other connecting material across or along a sidewalk; 
and
h) Failure to act or perform adequate action by the local government unit 
concerned respecting the abatement of any obstruction within its territorial 
jurisdiction; Provided, That any person responsible for the construction or 
presence of any obstruction as defined in this Act shaU, in addition to having 
such obstruction abated summarily, be liable for damages as provided in this 
Section; Provided, further, That where the person suffering damages is a 
disabled person, the award of exemplary or moral damages combined shall 
not be lower than Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (?20o,ooo.oo): Provided, 
finally. That should death result from such act or omission, the liability shall 
not be lower than Three Hundred Thousand Pesos (?300,ooo.oo).
Sec. 11. Dissemination of Information to the Public. - The provisions of this Act 
shall be disseminated widely to the public by the Department of Transportation
(DOTr), DPWH, the Department of Interior and Local Government and all local 
government units.
Sec. 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (6o) days from 
the approval of this Act, the DOTr and the DPWH, in consultation with the appropriate 
stakeholders and in coordination with different govet-nment agencies that regulate
traffic shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to implement the 
provisions of this Act.
Sec. 13. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees, 
presidential proclamations, letters of instruction, rules and regulations or parts


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thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act-are hereby repealed or 
modified accordingly.
Sec. 14. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof not affected shall continue 
to be in full force and effect.
Sec. 15* 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,