Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Nineteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO. 7270 __

Introduced by Representative Jefferson F. Khonghun

AN ACT REQUIRING MANDATORY SAFETY TRAINING TO ALL PUBLIC
UTILITY VEHICLE DRIVERS AS A REQUIREMENT FOR APPROVAL OF
DRIVER’S LICENSES AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS
THEREOF

EXPLANATORY NOTE

A lot of vehicular accidents that occur in our country have similar causes, and
the real tragedy is that many of those causes are preventable. A good and
extensive public transport driver training seminar can provide defensive driving
instruction and discussions of accident types and can reduce the likelihood of an
accident occurring on our roads. More importantly, having knowledge of road
safety can prevent many of the dangers of the road and make the roads safer for
everyone.

Sometime in 2017, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land
Transportation Regulatory and Franchising Board (LTFRB) launched its Driver’s
Academy where all public transport drivers are required to attend. An LTFRB
memorandum circular said the said academy will teach basic road safety rules
and regulations, driving courtesy and traffic rules, to public utility drivers with
the aim of building a “professionalized transport sector.”

While this is a welcome initiative from the Department of Transportation, a one-
day training seminar seems to be inadequate to educate our public transport
driver and address the lack of discipline of some of them. Thus, it is about time
to legislate this initiative and impose penalties for violators thereof because
thousands of commuters depend on them. A good training for our public
transport drivers will enable them to enhance their knowledge and skills for
them to be a safe driver.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly s

, Khonghun.

Hon. Jeffofsan
pf Zambales


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Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Nineteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILENO.”__ 7270

Introduced by Representative Jefferson F. Khonghun

AN ACT REQUIRING MANDATORY SAFETY TRAINING TO ALL PUBLIC
TRANSPORT DRIVERS AS A REQUIREMENT FOR APPROVAL OF
DRIVER’S LICENSES AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS
THEREOF

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 “Public Transport
Drivers Training Act’.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to
safeguard the life, health, property, and the general welfare of the people. The
State acknowledges the value of promoting awareness among its citizens,
particularly the drivers of public utility vehicles, of traffic laws, road safety
and road courtesy.

To hopefully lessen road accidents and ease traffic congestion, teaching
basic road safety rules and regulations to public utility drivers with the aim
of building a professionalize transport sector.

SECTION 3. Drivers Academy. - The Land Transportation Franchising
and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will require all drivers who want to drive public
utility vehicles to undergo intensive training under a so-called Driver’s

Academy.


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‘The Land Transportation Office (LTO) shall require said drivers to
submit a certificate of training completion as a pre-requisite for the approval

of a new driver’s license or its renewal.

SECTION 4. Responsibilities of the Academy. ~ The accredited Drivers
Academy shall have the following responsibilities:

a)
b)

Secure registration and accreditation with the LTO;

Conduct an intensive road safety training for all enrollees as
provided hereunder;
°)

Submit the names of those who finished the whole course to the
LTO, subject to the provisions of Republic Act No. 10173 or the
“Data Privacy Act of 2012";

SECTION 5. Public Transport Drivers Training. Public transport drivers
will be required to attend a one-week training seminar in an accredited
Driver’s Academy, which must be in accordance with the guidelines issued
by the LTO, and must pass the written exam of at least 75%. Only after
completing the program and passing the exam will the prospective
professional drivers receive a certificate of completion which they will have
to present when they renew their license.

SECTION 6. Prohibited Acts.— The following are prohibited under this
Act:

a)

Driving a public utility vehicle without securing the required

training certificate;

b) Allowing a public transport vehicle driver to get or renew a driver’s
license without the necessary training certificate;

c

Offering public transport driver’s training without the required
accreditation; and
q

Obtaining a driver's license or its renewal by falsifying or submitting
a false training certificate.

SECTION 7. Penalties. - a) Any person found driving a public utility
vehicle without securing the required training certificate shall, upon final
judgment or conviction, be punished by a fine not less than Twenty Thousand
Pesos (Php20,000.00); b) Any person who allows a public transport vehicle

driver to get or renew a driver’s license without the necessary training
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certificate shall, upon final judgment or conviction, be punished by
imprisonment of not less than six (6) months but not more than two (2) years,
or a fine of not less than Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php50,000.00), or both, at the
discretion of the court, provided further that, if the person is a public officer
or official, a penalty of one degree higher shall be imposed; c) Any person,
corporation or association offering public transport driver's training without
the required accreditation from the LTO shall, upon final judgment or
conviction, shall be liable with a fine of not less than Php100,000.00; and, d)
Any person who obtained a driver’s license or its renewal by falsifying or
submitting a false training certificate shall, upon final judgment and
conviction, be punished by imprisonment of not less than six (6) months but
not more than two (2) years, or a fine of not less than Fifty Thousand Pesos
(Php50,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court.

SECTION 8. Funding. — The amount necessary for the initial
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current
appropriations of the Department of Transportation. Thereafter, such amount
as may be necessary for its continued implementation shall be included in the

annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 9. Implementing Rules. — Within ninety (90) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the Department of Transportation, in coordination with
the Land Transportation Office, shall promulgate the necessary rules and
regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, executive orders,
proclamations, rules and regulations, and issuances, or parts thereof which
are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed, amended
or modified accordingly.

SECTION 11. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)
days following the completion of its publication in at least two (2) newspapers

of general circulation or in the Official Gazette.

Approved,