., 
v: 
3 ’  
,
I
 
, ,  . 
$.&+I-;,E 
, r: 
.;ECiE < a - d  
e ’  . ... 
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHaJPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
Introduced by Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV 
i/ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The general welfare of the public, specifically the commuters, should be at all times protected 
from the dangers brought about by other moving vehicles or carriages that are not easily seen in 
the street. 
In 2008, re orts have shown that road accidents are becoming the fourth leading killer in the 
Philippines . Road accidents, especially those involving public utility vehicles, figure highly in 
the national accident statistics. 
Informal transport modes such as karitons, fishball carts, power hand tractor (kuliglig) with 
trailer, and horse carriages also contribute to these road accidents for the reason that they do not 
have headlights or backlights, rendering them inconspicuous in roads. The kuliglig in particular, 
has been one of the major culprits in rural accidents - causing fatalities to pedestrians and public 
transport users. From May to November 2007, reports have shown that kuliglig-related accidents 
in Pangasinan alone resulted to the death of seven people and more than sixty injured persons. 
It may be true that accidents are part of our lives. However, there will always be a way to prevent 
these accidents from occurring. It is high time that we put a greater emphasis on improving road 
safety, particularly in the implementation of an effective road safety program. 
This bill seeks to put an end to the numerous deaths and accidents, most especially during 
nighttimes, caused by the informal transport modes traversing the roads. This bill distinctively 
requires the said vehicles traversing main and secondary roads to use reflectors. To further 
achieve the objectives of this measure, concerned government agencies shall be mandated to 
provide programs to educate the general public concerning the same matter. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
P 
A w=dL 
0 1O“SONNY” .TRELLAh’J%SIV 
Senator 
w w w p h i l s ~  
on 27 April 2009. 
1 


1 
2 
3 
A 
7 
5 
6 
7 
6 
9 
1c 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
SENATE 
6 
Introduced by Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV 
AN A€’€ 
TO REQUIRE CERTAIN VEHICLESKARRIAGES TRAVERSING MAIN AND 
SECONDARY ROAW 
TO 
USE 
REIFLECIORS, 
FROWEVG 
PENALTEES 
THEBEIFOR AND FOR OTmR fU&WSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
ussenrhk 
SECTION 1. Short lWe. - This Act may be cited as the “Reflectorized Vehicles and 
C G ~ ~ ~ G ~ C S  
k i ” .  
SEC. 2. Dec!sration ofPullcy. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to promote 
the general welfare of the public, specifically the commuters, and protect them from the dangers 
L--.. 
~ l ~ g h t  
&out by other I X G & ~ ~  yehides or ceiikges t h t  xe iioi easily seeii iii ihe street. It is 
also the policy of the State to implement measures that aim to achieve road safety and provide 
prograiiis to educate tlie geiieitd public coxiceinh-ig the vaiiie iiiattei. 
SEC. 3. EejZziti~n of T e x t .  - For pisposes ~f this Act, the follosting term shx!!! be 
defined as follows: 
a) caiiiagehehick - ii~eafis tiny iiioikig iiiipwised wheeled-vehizk oi ccixiiige: 
1) which crosses the main and secondary roads; 
2) includiiig, btit iioi liiiiiied io: karitoiis, 5sIibaii caris, hand tractor or the powei 
hand tractor (kuliglig) with trailer, and horse carriages; 
3) thiat do not hive headlights oi backligliiiiis, CGlispiCiiOuS iii tiie streets or roads; 
and 
1 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
4) other similar informal transport modes; 
b) fkprtment - meam the Department of Transpodation and Communications 
(DOTC); 
c) informal transport mode - means any vehicle not governed by the laws regarding land 
transportation and traffic code in the country and is not issued permit to operate on 
public mads; 
d) kuliglig - means: 
1) a two-wheeled trailer pulled by a two-wheeled tiactor; 
2) a multi-purpose diesel or gasoline engine commonly used in provinces and 
other rural areas in the country; 
3) an informal and improvised transport mode commonly used by farmers to 
carry their produce Erom the field to the mket, and also sometimes loaded 
with passengers; 
e) reflectors - mans any m a t e d  or sticker that reflects and can be easily visibIe 
especially at night. 
SEC. 4. Mandatory Use of Reflectors on Carriages. - All vehicleslcarriages covered 
within this Act shall use such reflectors as herein mm&ted. Otherwise, they shall be absolutely 
prohibited Erom traversing all main and secondary roads of the country. 
Within ninety (90) days from the date of effstivity of this Act, the Department, in 
coordination with the Land Transportation Office (LTO), local government units, and other 
concerned agencies, shall issue the necessary guidelines and requirements for the mandatory use 
of reflectors on carriages crossing the main and secondary roads nationwide. 
SEC. 5. Information, Education and Communicafion Campaign. - The Department, in 
cooperation with the Philippine Infmation Agency (PIA), is hereby mandated to conduct a 
comprehensive and nationwide information, education and communication campaign in order to 
inform the general public of the purpose and obyectives envisioned mder this Act. 
2 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
SEC. 6. Penulties. - Violation of the provisions of this Act shall be subject to 
impounding of the mrriage/vehicie involved. If violation of this Act results to any accident, the 
owner, possessor and/or operator thereof at the time of the accident shall be subject to a fine of 
not less than Fifty Thousand Pesos (F50,WQ) but not more than Two Hundred Thousand Pesos 
(P200,OOO) or imprisonment of not less than six (6) months but not more than four (4) years or 
both, at the discretion of the court. 
SEC. 7. Sepurabitity Clause. - If any provision vf this Act shall at any time be found to 
be unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder thereof not affected by such declaration shall 
remain in full f o w  and effect. 
SEC. 8. Repealing CCuuse. - All laws, decrees, rules or regulations inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following 
its complete publication in two (2) newsppers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
3