Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
Second Regular Session 
House Bill No. 10257 
Introduced by Honorable Eduardo “Brother Eddie” C. Villanueva 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The rampant misuse of beacons, sirens, and other emergency vehicle lights and audio 
devices by motor vehicle drivers, particularly by politicians, presents a grave road safety issue 
in the Philippines. This misuse not only poses hazards on the roads but also undermines 
public trust in the responsible operation of motor vehicles, especially when perpetrated by 
public officials seeking undue advantages or asserting unwarranted authority over other road 
users. 
Existing regulations issued by various law enforcement agencies such as the Land 
Transportation Office (LTO) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) lack 
consistency, leading to confusion and ineffective enforcement. This proposed legislation aims 
to tackle these challenges by establishing a unified framework to regulate and deter the 
unauthorized use of emergency vehicle lights and audio devices, while ensuring their proper 
use in appropriate circumstances such as transporting patients or victims requiring urgent 
medical attention. 
The proposed legislation is aligned with the Constitutional principle that protecting life 
and property and promoting the general welfare are fundamental for all citizens to enjoy the 
benefits of democracy. By promoting responsible use of beacons, sirens, and other 
emergency vehicle equipment while driving or operating a motor vehicle, the bill reinforces 
ethical conduct among government officials and personnel, emphasizing the importance of 
prioritizing public interest over personal gain, particularly on Philippine roads. 
Moreover, the bill provides clear definitions to delineate between authorized and 
unauthorized use of emergency vehicle equipment. It also imposes stringent penalties, 
including fines and suspension of driver's licenses, to deter individuals from engaging in 
unlawful use of such devices. 
To ensure effective implementation, the bill assigns specific responsibilities to relevant 
government agencies, primarily the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the LTO, in 
collaboration with law enforcement agencies and local government units (LGUs). Additionally, 
it mandates comprehensive information campaigns to raise awareness about the lawful use 
of emergency vehicle equipment and the associated penalties. 
April 17, 2024
3:23 pm


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In summary, this bill aims to enhance road safety, uphold ethical standards in public 
service, and streamline regulations governing emergency vehicle lights and audio devices. 
By establishing clear guidelines and enforcement mechanisms, the proposed law seeks to 
promote orderly and secure roadways across the Philippines. 
In this light, the passage of this Bill is earnestly sought. 
HON. EDUARDO C. VILLANUEVA 
Representative 
CIBAC Partylist 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 10257 
Introduced by Representatives Eduardo “Brother Eddie” C. Villanueva 
AN ACT 
PROHIBITING THE INDISCRIMINATE USE OF BEACONS, SIRENS, AND OTHER 
EMERGENCY VEHICLE LIGHTS AND AUDIO ACCESSORIES FOR MOVING 
VEHICLES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the Anti-Wang Wang Act. 
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policies. - Pursuant to the Constitutional principle that 
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recognizes the protection of life and property and the promotion of the general 
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welfare as essential for the enjoyment of the blessings of democracy, it is hereby 
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declared the policy of the State to ensure the safety of all road users through the 
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observance of the responsible use of motor vehicles. 
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It is also the policy of the State to promote the highest standard of ethics in public 
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service, and to ensure that public officials and personnel foster public trust by 
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living modestly and prioritizing public interest over personal gain, especially in 
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the use of shared spaces such as Philippine roads. 
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SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms 
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shall have the following meanings: 
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(a) Emergency Vehicle Light refers to lights, other than headlights and
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taillights as defined under Republic Act No. 4136, otherwise known as the
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Land Transportation and Traffic Code, as amended, that are dedicated to
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convey urgency, warnings, or signaling during law enforcement and other
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authorized activities, including but not limited to rotating lights or beacons
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or dome lights, fixed flashing lights, strobe lights, and light-emitting diode
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(LED) lighting, oscillating lights, blinkers, and shall also refer to after-
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marketing modifications such as wig-wag devices that are designed to flash
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the headlamps alternatingly or hideaway lights;
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(b) Audio Accessory refers to a bell, siren, or exhaust whistle or any other
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similar device and shall include a horn or signalling device that emits an
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exceptionally loud, startling, or disagreeable sound, other than the horn or
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signalling device built in the motor vehicle as defined and allowed under R.A. 
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No. 4136, as amended; and 
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(c) Motor Vehicle refers to any land transportation vehicle propelled by any 
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power other than muscular power. 
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SEC. 4. Regulating the Use of Emergency Vehicle Lighting and Audio 
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Accessories in Motor Vehicles. –  
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1) It shall be unlawful for any person, including government officials and 
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personnel, to use an emergency vehicle light or audio accessory while 
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driving or operating a motor vehicle, or to attach such lights or audio 
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accessories to or within the motor vehicle, except when authorized under 
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Subsection 3 of this Section and subject to the conditions set forth in 
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Subsections 4 or 5 of this Section, as applicable. 
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2) The prohibition under Subsection 1 of this Section shall apply to the 
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registered owner of a private motor vehicle, or a government official or 
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personnel to whom an official vehicle has been assigned for use, who 
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permits the use of an emergency vehicle light or audio accessory while 
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driving or operating a motor vehicle, or permits such lights or audio 
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accessories to be attached to or within the motor vehicle. If any person 
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uses an emergency vehicle light or audio accessory while driving or 
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operating a motor vehicle that is not clearly marked as designated for 
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official use under Subsection 3(a) of this Section or is not used to transport 
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patients or victims, or for emergency purposes or calamity-related activities 
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under Subsection 3(b) of this Section, the owner in case of a private motor 
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vehicle or government official or personnel to whom an official vehicle has 
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been assigned for use, shall be presumed to have permitted the use of such 
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emergency vehicle light or audio accessory. 
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3) A person may, subject to the conditions set forth in Subsections 4 or 5 of 
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this Section, as applicable, lawfully use an emergency vehicle light or audio 
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accessory while driving or operating a motor vehicle that is: 
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a. Designated for official use by the Armed Forces of the Philippines 
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(AFP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and Philippine National 
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Police (PNP), Bureau of Corrections (BuCoR), Bureau of Jail 
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Management and Penology (BJMP), and law enforcement agencies, 
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and clearly marked as such, including but not limited to patrol 
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vehicles, armored vehicles, and prisoner's vans; Provided, That, 
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vehicles designated for official use by local government officials or 
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personnel shall be subject to issuances by the respective local 
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government units pursuant to Section 9 of this Act; or  
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b. Necessary for the transportation of patients or victims, such as 
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medical ambulances, or for emergency purposes or calamity-related 
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activities, such as fire trucks operated by the Bureau of Fire 
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Protection (BFP) or volunteer firefighter organizations, and clearly 
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marked as such: Provided, That, volunteer firefighter organizations 
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must obtain a permit from the BFP prior to using such lights and/or 
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audio accessories; Provided, Further, that private healthcare facilities 
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or organizations that will operate a private ambulance must obtain a 
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similar permit from the Department of Health (DOH) prior to using 
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such lights and/or audio accessories on any of its registered motor 
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vehicles to be used as ambulances or for patient transport. 
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4) A person who is authorized to use an emergency vehicle light while driving 
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or operating a motor vehicle pursuant to Subsection 3 of this Section shall 
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not use such light or otherwise put it into operation, unless:  
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a. The motor vehicle is coming to a stop or halted on a road;  
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b. It is necessary to do so for the safe operation of the motor vehicle; 
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or 
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c. The vehicle presents a hazard to other vehicles on a road. 
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5) A person who is authorized to use an audio accessory while driving or 
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operating a motor vehicle pursuant to Subsection 3 of this Section shall not 
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use such audio accessory, except to warn other road users of the driver's 
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intention to stop, abruptly reduce speed, turn, or change lanes. 
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SEC. 5. Prohibition on the Sale of Emergency Vehicle Lights and Audio 
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Accessories. - 
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1) It shall be unlawful for any person to manufacture, import, distribute, sell, 
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market, or promote an emergency vehicle light or audio accessory, except 
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to volunteer firefighter organizations and private healthcare facilities or 
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organizations that will operate a private ambulance upon presentation of 
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the applicable BFP or DOH permit. 
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2) All manufacturers, importers, distributors, or sellers of an emergency 
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vehicle light or audio accessory covered under this Act shall maintain 
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records of completed sales permitted under this Section, which shall be 
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open for inspection by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) subject to 
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guidelines to be prescribed for this purpose. 
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SEC. 6. Implementation. 
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1) The DOTr, through the LTO, shall oversee and ensure the implementation 
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of the provisions of this Act in coordination with the PNP through the 
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Highway Patrol Group (HPG), BFP, DOH, and other concerned agencies. LTO 
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enforcement officers and duly designated enforcement officers from other 
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law enforcement agencies, including local government units (LGUs), shall 
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be responsible for the enforcement of the provisions of this Act. 
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2) The LTO shall have the power to issue other policies, rules, regulations, and 
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standards for the effective implementation of this Act, and shall develop 
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guidelines prescribing the procedure to enforce Sections 4 and 5 of this Act 
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within four (4) months from effectivity of this Act. The authority of the LTO 
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under this Subsection shall include the power to regularly publish and 
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update a list of devices that may be considered as emergency vehicle lights 
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and audio accessories that are covered under this Act, with due regard to 
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emerging technologies. 
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3) The LTO shall consolidate reports of violations committed by government 
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officials or personnel and make recommendations for the institution of 
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criminal and/or administrative cases against such officials or personnel for 
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violations of the provisions of this Act, to the Office of the Ombudsman or 
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agency, as may be applicable. 
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SEC. 7. Penalties. - In addition to the penalties provided under existing laws, 
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the following acts shall be penalized: 
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1) Any driver in violation of Section 4(1), Section 4(4), or Section 4(5) of this 
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Act shall be fined One thousand pesos (P1,000.00) for the first offense; 
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Two thousand pesos (P2,000.00) for the second offense; Five thousand 
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pesos (P5,000.00) and suspension of the driver's license for a period of one 
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(1) year for the third and succeeding offenses: Provided, That, in case the 
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driver of a private motor vehicle is not the owner of the vehicle, the owner 
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shall be solitarily liable with the driver for the fine/s imposed under this 
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subsection; Provided, Further, that in case a government official or 
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personnel to whom an official vehicle has been designated for use, is not 
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the driver or a passenger of such vehicle, he/she shall be solitarily liable 
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with the driver of the motor vehicle for the fine imposed under this 
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Subsection, in addition to administrative and other sanctions and penalties 
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that may apply under prevailing laws, rules, and regulations, such as but 
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not limited to Republic Act No. 6713, otherwise known as Code of Conduct 
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and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. 
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2) Any manufacturer, distributor, importer, retailer, or seller who violates 
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Section 5 of this Act shall be punished with a fine of not less than Fifty 
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thousand pesos (P50,000.00) but not more than One hundred thousand 
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pesos (P100,000.00) for each and every emergency vehicle light or audio 
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accessory that is manufactured, distributed, imported and/or sold, without 
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prejudice to other penalties imposed under Republic Act No. 7394 otherwise 
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known as the Consumer Act of the Philippines. 
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SEC. 8. Safe Use of Roads for Transporting Patients, Victims, and for 
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Other Public Security Purposes. - The LTO shall conduct a study on road use 
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and traffic management strategies for the safe transportation of patients and 
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victims, or for conducting emergency or disaster response, and make necessary 
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recommendations to Congress for other safety measures: Provided, That, the LTO 
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shall ensure that such measures safeguard the safety of all types of road users; 
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Provided, Further, that such measures shall ensure the highest affordable 
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protection to pedestrians, cyclists, and road users travelling on public or mass 
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transportation vehicles and active modes of transportation.  
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The LTO shall conduct the study within one (1) year from the effectivity of this 
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Act, and shall furnish a copy of the results of such study to the President and the 
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Congress of the Philippines. 
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SEC. 9. Local Government Units. – 
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1) LGUs, through appropriate ordinances, shall enforce mechanisms to 
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implement the provisions of this Act, subject to the provisions of Republic 
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Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, and 
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other applicable laws, rules, and regulations. The LTO, in coordination with 
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the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), shall provide 
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the technical support to LGUs for the development of such issuances. 
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2) LGUs shall regularly report apprehended violators to the LTO for the 
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appropriate recording of demerits pursuant to the Implementing Rules and 
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Regulations of Republic Act No. 10930 or An Act Rationalizing and 
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Strengthening the Policy Regarding Driver's Licenses by Extending the 
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Validity Period of Driver's Licenses, and Penalizing Acts in Violation of Its 
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Issuance and Application, Amending for Those Purposes Section 23 of 
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Republic Act No. 4136, as Amended by Batas Pambansa Blg. 398 and 
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Executive Order No. 1011, Otherwise Known as the Land Transportation 
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and Traffic Code, and other applicable laws, rules and regulations, and for 
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purposes of making recommendations for the institution of appropriate 
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administrative and/or criminal proceedings pursuant to Section 6 of this Act. 
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SEC. 10. Information, Education, and Communications Campaign. 
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1) The DOTr, PNP, BFP, DOH, Philippine Information Agency (PIA), in 
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partnership with organizations from the private sector, civil society, and 
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academe shall undertake regular nationwide Information, Education and 
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Communication (IEC) campaign within six (6) months from the passage of 
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this Act. The IC campaign shall include information on the emergency 
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vehicle lights and audio accessories that are covered under this Act, and 
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the permitted use of such lights and audio accessories and relevant 
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processes. 
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2) The DOTr may call upon any government agency and partner with relevant 
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organizations from the private sector, civil society, and academe, to extend 
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their full support and cooperation for the implementation of this Act. 
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SEC. 11. Annual Report. - The DOTr shall conduct a periodic review of the 
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implementation of this Act, including enforcement by other government agencies 
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and LGUs, and submit a report on such review to the President and Congress of 
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the Philippines not later than June 30 of each year. 
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SEC. 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within four (4) months 
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from the effectivity of this Act, the DOTr, LTO, PNP-HPG, all concerned agencies, 
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upon prior consultation with relevant stakeholders, shall issue the implementing 
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rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act. 
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SEC. 13. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the implementation of 
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this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
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SEC. 14. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations 
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or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act, including but not limited to issuances 
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promulgated by the LTO, Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and other 
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agencies, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 15. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other 
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provisions hereof. 
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SEC. 16. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days from its 
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publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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