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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House sino 4403

Introduced by Honorable CARMELO B, LAZATIN II

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Driving a vehicle is a privilege that should be accorded only to those who are found to be fit and
‘competent enough to take on the responsibilities that the act entails. This is precisely the reason why obtaining a
license to drive is a mandatory requirement for every would-be driver in the country.

But when abused or given to someone unfit for it, this privilege can result in deadly consequences,
According to the Global Status Report on Road Safety by the World Health Organization (WHO), 10,379
Filipinos died as a result of road traffic accidents in 2015. Of this number, 19% were pedestrians, 14% were
drivers of four-wheeled vehicles, and 11% were vehicle passengers. Data from the Road Crash Statistics Report
of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA)'s Metro Manila Accident Recording and Analysis
System reveals that in the National Capital Region (NCR) alone, there were 95,615 reported road accidents in
2015, of which 519 resulted in actual deaths. :

‘The causes of road accidents are varied, ranging from loss of control of the vehicle in cases such as
mechanical malfunctions and lost brakes, to dismal knowledge of driving rules in cases such as over speeding,
abrupt maneuvers, bad turns and reverse, as well as overtaking.

The license requirement for all would-be drivers is supposed to filter potentially good drivers from those
Who are not ready to take on the road with a vehicle. However, the alarming data cited in the foregoing
paragraphs highlight the need to strengthen drivers’ education even prior to the procurement of a driver's license
in order to mitigate, if not altogether eliminate, the likelihood of figuring in road accidents

By implementing a drivers’ education program as an elective among senior high schoo! students in
Public secondary schools in the country, students will have a greater and in-depth knowledge of both the
theoretical and practical aspects of driving. Equipping would-be drivers with the know-how needed to carry out
good and safe driving is one of the key measures necessary in ensuring safer roads for drivers, passengers, and
pedestrians alike,

In view of the foregoing premises, the approval ofthis Bill is earnestly sought.

CARMELO BALAZATIN I

First District, Pampanga

nuGeive.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City, Metro Manila

‘SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4403

House Bill No.

Introduced by Honorable CARMELO B. LAZATIN II

AN ACT

PROVIDING FOR A DRIVERS’ EDUCATION PROGRAM AS AN ELECTIVE FOR SENIOR HIGH
SCHOOL STUDENTS IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Drivers’ Education Elective Act.”

SEC2. Declaration of Policy. ~ The State recognizes its duty of ensuring road safety as a means of
upholding its mandate of protecting its citizenry from the ruinous and injurious effects of road accidents.
Equipping would-be drivers with the knowledge needed to carry out good and safe driving is one of the key
measures necessary in ensuring safer roads for drivers, passengers, and pedestrians alike. Towards this end, the
State shall provide a Drivers’ Education Program as an elective for senior high school students in public and
private secondary schools in the countr

SEC.3. Inclusion of Drivers’ Education as an Elective. ~ A Drivers’ Education Program shall be
offered as an elective class for students in Grades 11 and 12 in both public and private secondary high schools
all over the country.

SEC. 4, Eligibility to Enroll in the Drivers’ Education Elective. ~ To be qualified to enroll in the
Drivers’ Education Program, the student must be in 11th or 12th Grade and enrolled in a public or private
secondary high school. The student must be at least 17 years old, in accordance with the age requirement set by
the Land Transportation Office (LTO) for the issuance of a Student Driver's Permit.

SEC. 5. Drivers’ Education Instructors. ~ The driving instructors who will be in charge of the
Drivers’ Education Program in all secondary schools shall be duly accredited and licensed by the LTO as
professional driving instructors.

SEC. 6. Phases of Instruction. ~ The Drivers’ Education Program shall be conducted for ten (10) days
and shall be composed of two phases: the Classroom Instruction phase and the Behind-the-Wheel phase.

A) The Classroom Instruction phase shall be conducted over the course of five (5) days. The Driver
Education Instructor shall provide the theoretical aspects of driving, as well as the applicable laws
and regulations relating to the act. The completion of this phase is a requisite before proceeding to
the next phase. The topics to be discussed must include the following:

8) Traffic signs and their meaning
b) Rights and obligations of pedestrians;



©) Rights and obligations of drivers;

d) Rights and obligations of vehicle owners;
©) Public utility vehicles;

1) The Land Transportation Office and its powers and functions;
g) Philippine Laws on driving and road use;

hh) Local Traffie Code; and

i) Such other topics related to road courtesy and disci

ine, and traffie safety.

B) The Behind-the-Wheel phase shall be conducted over the course of five (5) successive days. Three
(3) hours of actual behind-the-wheel instruction shall be allotted for each day, or a total of fifteen
(15) hours for this phase. The completion of this phase is necessary before the student is conferred
Certificate of Completion.

SEC. 7. Provision for Student Driver's Permit. ~ The Certificate of Completion issued upon the
completion of the Drivers’ Education Program shall be sufficient for the issuance of Student Driver's Permit in
lieu of the requisites imposed by the LTO for the issuance of the same.

SECTION 8. Partnership with Private Driving Schools. - The DepEd and the LTO may, in its
discretion, forge a partnership with Private Driving Schools, for the latter to provide the car units that shall be
used by the participating students during the Behind-the-Wheel phase. Such partnership shall be reflected in a
Memorandum of Agreement, and subject to reasonable compensation.

SEC. Appropriations. ~The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be charged
against the current appropriations for the Department of Education (DepEd) and the LTO. Thereafter, such
amount as may be necessary for the continued operation of the Drivers’ Education Program shall be included in
the General Appropriations Act.

SEC.10. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). — Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of
this Act, the LTO and the DepEd, in coordination with other appropriate agencies, shall promfulgate the rules
and regulations and other issuances as may be necessary, to ensure the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 11. Separability Clause. — \f any provision or part hereof is held invalid or unconstitutional, the
remainder of the law or the provisions not otherwise affected shall remain valid and subsisting.

SEC. 12 Repeating Clause. ~ All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations and administrative
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 13. Effectivity. ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official
Gazette ot in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation,

Approved,