THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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Third Regular Session 
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S. B. No. 
5 0 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
In 1998, it was reported that there were 449 deaths per 100,000 population of 
the 5 - 9 year old age group in. In the Philippines, motor vehicle crashes were the 
third leading cause of overall mortality in the 10-14 year old age group. These 
accounted for 299 deaths per 100,000 population of the age group in 1998. 
According to a study made by the Philippine Pediatric Society, Inc. in 2004, 
private owned motor vehicles make up 79.6% of all vehicles on Philippine roads. In 
tlie 5 -15 year old age group, traffic crashes are the 3rd leading overall cause of 
mortality. Lack of seat belts or improper use of restraints may account for a 
substantial portion of these deaths. 
Adult seat belts are ill equipped to protect young children. Child seats provide 
effective restraint for young children riding in motor vehicles and minimize risk or 
death and injury during car crashes. However, the implementation of mandatory child 
seats may not be feasible, affordable, and sustainable in developing countries such as 
the Philippines. 
Republic Act 8750 mandates the installation and use of adult seat belts in front 
and rear seats of any private motor vehicle. Children below six years of age are 
likewise prohibited from occupying the front seat of any moving motor vehicle. 
However, the Republic Act No. 8750 does not require the use of specialized seats or 
restraints for young children. This bill seeks to address that deficiency. 


OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session 
0 
S. B. NO. 
. -  
SEN 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING THE USE OF SAFETY DEVICES FOR CHILDREN 
RIDING IN MOTOR VEHICLES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Child Safety 
Device Act of 2006.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote 
the general welfare of the people. Pursuant to this policy, and emphasizing that safe 
driving practices and proper use of safety devices remain the best way to protect 
children from traffic crashes and injuries resulting from vehicular accidents, this Act 
seeks to penalize any driver of a motor vehicle to travel which children on board 
without providing a safety device for such children 
SECTION 3. DeJinition of Terms. -As used in this Act, the term: 
(A) “Adult” means any person eighteen (1 8) years old and above. 
(B) “Children” means any person twelve (12) years and below. 
(C) “Motor vehicle” means every vehicle operated or driven upon a public 
highway which is propelled by any power other than muscular power and is being 
used in any way to carry any child from one place to another 
(D) “Safety devices” shall mean any device approved by the Land 
Transportation Office to ensure the safety of children riding in motor vehicles. 


SECTION 4. Prohibited Acts and Penalties far violation thereoj - It shall be 
unlawful for any driver of a motor vehicle to travel which children on board without 
providing a safety device for such children. Any driver in violation of this provision 
shall be punished by a fine of One Thousand Pesos (P1,000.0’0) or imprisonment of 
not more than thirty (30) days, or both at the discretion of the court, taking into 
consideration all attending circumstances. 
The license of such driver shall also be revoked upon final conviction for two 
(2) violations of this provision. Such revocation shall prohibit the grant of a new 
driver’s license for the twelve (12) months from the date of the conviction. 
It shall also be unlawhl for any adult accompanying any child or to allow 
such child to travel on a motor vehicle which does not have safety devices for 
children, unless such adult provides one for the child’s own use. Any person in 
violation of this provision shall be punished by a fine of Two Thousand Pesos 
(P2,000.00) or imprisonment of not more than thirty (30) days, or both at the 
discretion of the court, taking into consideration all attending circumstances. 
SECTION 5. Exceptions. - The provisions of this Act shall not apply to 
public utility vehicles such as, but not limited to, jeepneys and buses, as well as to 
emergency vehicles. It shall likewise not apply to medical emergencies or when, 
because of the circumstances of the situation, riding in a motor vehicle without a 
safety device removes such child from an even greater or more imminent danger. 
SECTION 6. Implementing Agency. ~ The Land Transportation Office shall be 
the primary implementing and supervising agency for the implementation of this Act. 
It shall fonnulate the necessary implementing rules and regulations immediately upon 
the approval of this Act which it shall promulgate not more than sixty (60) days after 
the approval such approval. It shall likewise formulate a procedure for the approval a€ 
safety devices for use by children in motor vehicles and to publish a list of such 
approved devices not more than ninety (90) days after the approval of this Act. 


SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part thereof, is held 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise 
affected shall reinaiii valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, nile or regulation contrary 
to, or inconsistent with the provisions o f  this Act is hereby repealed, modified or 
amended accordingly. 
SECTION 9. ESfectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
RCC/8-18-06