FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) 
First Regulal' Session 
) 
SENATE 
s.No._3_78 
I' ' 
U 
_____ ------:-------lr 
Introduced by Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to amend Republic Act No. 8750, otherwise known as the Seatbelts Use 
Act of 1999 by requiring all passengers and drivers of school services such as school 
huses to use their seathelts. 
Crash test and case study data indicate that seat belts provide improved crash protection 
and are especially beneficial in side-impact and rollover school bus accidents. Seat belts 
also reduce other types of injuries by restraining children who may otherwise be out of 
their seats. This also helps improve passenger behavior and reduce distractions to school 
bus drivers. In addition, seat belts provide another important benefit, namely, educating 
children as to seat belt nse and reinforcing seat belt nse in motor vehicles. I 
Although school services accidents ~re relatively rare in the country, when they do occur, 
innocent children wind up as casualties, and the whole community is affected. It is 
therefore imperative to promote the safety of our children by providing standards in their 
public transportation. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this measure is earnestly sought. 
Recommendations 
from 
Governor's 
Study 
Group 
on 
School 
Bus 
Seat 
Belts. 
ftp://ftp.alsde.edu/documcnts/63/RepOlt%20From%20Governors%20StudY%20Group%200n%20School%20nus%20S 
l<ill'Yo20Belts"%,o202-2ll:QlJldf. Information retrieved on 10 July 2008. 
I 


FU'TEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REI)UBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regulat' Session 
) 
SENATE 
.., "j 8" 
s. NO. -=v....;(-=.. 
Introduced by Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING THE USE OF SEATBELT DEVICES IN SCHOOL SERVICES, 
AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED 8750, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE SEATBELTS USE ACT OF J999 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
I 
SECTION 1. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 8750, otherwise known as the 
2 
Seatbelts Use Act of 1999 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
3 
4 
SECTION 4. Mandatory Use IIf Seat Belts. -
For their own safety, the 
5 
driver and front seat passengers of a public or private motor vehicle are required 
6 
to wear or use their seat belt devices while inside a vehicle of running engine on 
7 
any road or thoroughfare: Provided, That for private vehicles, except for jeepneys, 
8 
vans, buses and such ofh~r private vehicles as may be determined in the 
9 
Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), fi'ont and back seat passengers are 
10 
likewise required to use their seat belt devices at all times. 
II 
In the case of public motor vehicles, the driver shall be required to immediately 
12 
inform and require the front· seat passengers upon boarding a vehicle of running 
13 
engine to wear the prescribed seat belts. Any passenger who refuses to wem' seat 
14 
belts shall not be allowed to continue his/her trip. 
15 
For special public service vehicles [such as school services and other similat' 
16 
vehicles), EXCEPT FOR SCHOOL SERVICES, as may be detennined by the 
17 
IRR, seat belt devices should be provided and used by both drivers and front seat 


I 
passengers as defined herein and the first row passengers immediately behind the 
2 
driver at all times while inside a vehicle of running engine. 
3 
Operational motor vehicles, both public and private, which are not equipped with 
4 
the required seat belt devices, are given one (I) year from the issuance of the lRR 
5 
by the Land Transportation Office (L TO) to retrofit appropriate seat belt devices 
6 
in their vehicles. 
7 
SEC 2. Another section is to be added after Section 4 to read as follows: 
8 
9 
SECTION. 5. SEATBELTS IN SCHOOL SERVICES. -
FOR 
10 
SCHOOL SERVICES SUCH AS SCHOOL BUSES, SEAT BELT DEVICES 
11 
SHOULD BE PROVIDED AND USED BY BOTH DRIVERS AND ALL 
12 
PASSENGERS AT ALL TIMES WHILE INSIDE SUCH VEHICLE OF 
13 
RUNNING ENGINE. 
14 
ALL SCHOOL BUSES PURCHASED BY PUBLIC AND PRIVATE 
15 
SCHOOLS SHALL BE EQUIPPED WITH SEATBELT DEVICES IN 
16 
COMPLIANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE INDUSTRY STANDARDS. 
17 
THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL ADOPT RELEVANT 
18 
PROGRAMS AND RULES: 
19 
I. REQUIRING THE USE .OF SEAT BELT DEVICES BY PUPILS BETWEEN 
20 
THE AGES OF FOUR AND TWELVE ON SCHOOL SERVICES SUCH AS 
21 
SCHOOL BUSES; 
22 
2. PROVIDING APPROPRIATE DISCWI ,lNE FOR ANY PUPIL WHO FAILS 
23 
TO COMPLY WITH THIS SECTION AND ANY RULE ADOPTED 
24 
REGARDING THE USE OF SEAT BELT DEVICES ON SCHOOL 
25 
SERVICES SUCH AS SCHOOL BUSES; 
26 
3. 
ENCOURAGING 
PARENTS, 
TEACHERS, 
AND 
COMMUNITIY 
27 
ASSOCIATIONS 
TO 
PARTICIPATE 
IN 
THE 
EDUCATION 
OF 
28 
STUDENTS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF USING SEATBELT DEVICES. 
2 


SEC. 3. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
2 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
3 
remain valid and subsisting. 
4 
5 
SEC. 4. Repealing Clause. - Section 4 of Republic Act No. 8750, otherwise 
6 
known as the Seatbelts Use Act of 1999, and all laws, presidential decrees or issuances, 
7 
executive orders, letters of instruction, administrative orders, rules or regulations contrary 
8 
to, or inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed, modified, or 
9 
amended accordingly. 
10 
II 
SF~C. S. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
12 
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
13 
circulation. 
Approved, 
3