Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 6027

Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representatives
Eduardo “Bro. Eddie” C. Villanueva and Domingo C. Rivera

AN ACT PROTECTING UNATTENDED CHILDREN
IN MOTOR VEHICLES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In the past years, the number of deaths arising from suffocation in cars has been
increasing. In the United States, around 682 children died from 1998 to 2019, after
their parents left them unattended inside a motor vehicle.’ In the Philippines, 10
children have reportedly died from suffocation inside motor vehicles in 2017. In the
first quarter of 2019, three young girls were found dead after accidentally locking
themselves in a car where they suffocated.?

Thus, there is a need to educate our citizens regarding the safety and health
risks of leaving children inside motor vehicles, especially in periods of extreme weather
conditions. According to the Spanish Association of Pediatrics? (Asociacion Espafiola
de Pediatria), children aged zero to five years old are most likely to incur a rise in body
temperature three to five times faster than that of adults due to a lower water reserve
and a developing respiratory system. Moreover, a study found that a motor vehicle
left for an hour in the sun may heat up to 116 degrees, a temperature that may cause
organ failure, brain damage and death to toddlers.

+ 2016, July 25. Two more children died over the weeker
Trae M. The Wastingon Post. Retiaved fom

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7 82. fee aetoed duly, 2019}

"019, May 17 Tete cd cova od ead afer cieray iockg eee mac 35C het ou een

Philippines. Pleasance, Chris. Daily Mail Online. Retrieved from:

Gate lst accessed: July 23,2019)

in Chilren, Associacion Espanola de, Pediatia, Retieved tom:
Dai (date last accessed: July 23, 2018).



This bill seeks to prevent the occurrence of death of, or injury to, unsupervised
children under nine years old inside motor vehicles, when there are conditions that
present a significant risk to the child's health and safety, or when the vehicle's engine
is running or the vehicle’s keys are in the ignition, or both. Any person who violates
the provision of this Act will be penalized with a fine ranging from Ten Thousand Pesos
(Php10,000) to Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php50,000) depending on the frequency of
violation committed by the offender. This bill also requires all violators of the Act to
undergo driver education seminars with the Land Transportation Office (LTO), which
shall include education on the dangers of leaving young children unattended in motor
vehicles.

The immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

Cae a 7 ae
HON. EDUARDO “BRO. EDDIE” C. VILLANUEVA

a.
JOMINGO £./RIVERA


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. cozy

Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representatives
Eduardo “Bro. Eddie” C. Villanueva and Domingo C. Rivera

AN ACT PROTECTING UNATTENDED CHILDREN
IN MOTOR VEHICLES

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

SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Unattended Child in Motor
Vehicles Act.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby the policy of the State to defend the
right of children to assistance, including proper care and nutrition, and special
protection from all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation, and other conditions
prejudicial to their development. To this end, the State shall adopt a more proactive
and preventive approach to secure the safety of passengers, especially children, by
regulating the operation of vehicle and penalizing persons who leave children
unattended inside a motor vehicle. The State shall also inculcate the standards of safe
use of motor vehicles and the benefits that may be derived from it through institutional
programs and appropriate public information strategies.

SECTION 3. Unattended Child in Motor Vehicles. — It shall be unlawful for a person
to intentionally, recklessly, knowingly or negligently cause or permit to leave a child
under nine (9) years of age inside a motor vehicle without being subject to the
supervision of a person who is fifteen (15) years old or above, under any of the
following circumstances:

a) When there are conditions that present a significant risk to the child's health or
safety; or


b) When the vehicle’s engine is running or the vehicle's keys are in the ignition, or
both.

For the purposes of this Act, the term “motor vehicle” refers to any land transportation
vehicle propelled by any power other than muscular power, excluding tricycle,
motorcycle and jeepney.

SECTION 4. Penalty. - Any person who violates the provisions of this Act shall be
liable for an administrative fine in the amount of Ten Thousand Pesos (Php 10,000.00)
for the first offense; Twenty Thousand Pesos (Php20,000.00) for the second offense;
and Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php50,000.00) for the third and succeeding offenses.

If, as a result of such violation, less serious or serious injuries result, the offender shall
additionally be punished with a penalty of imprisonment of one (1) year. If death occurs
as a result thereof, a penalty of imprisonment ranging from two (2) years to six (6)
years shall be additionally imposed on the offender.

Nothing herein shall preclude the filing of charges for violation of Act No. 3815,
otherwise known as “The Revised Penal Code of the Philippines,” as amended, and
other special laws.

All persons in violation of this Act shall also be required to undergo driver education
seminars with the Land Transportation Office (LTO), which shall include education on
the dangers of leaving young children unattended in motor vehicles.

SECTION 5. Lead Agency. — The Land Transport Office (LTO) shall take the lead in
implementing the provisions of this Act. The LTO shall have the authority to deputize
members of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Metropolitan Manila
Development Authority (MMDA), other metropolitan councils and the responsible
officer of local government units (LGUs) to enforce the provisions of this Act.

The LTO shall also be empowered to adjust the amount of fines herein
imposed: Provided, That:

a) The adjustment shall be made only once every three (3) years, and after public
consultation;

b) The amount of adjustment shall not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the amount
sought to be adjusted;

c) A thorough study shall have been conducted indicating that the existing amounts
are no longer an effective deterrent; and

d) Current relevant economic indices, such as the Consumer Price Index (CPI),
have been considered in the determination of the adjusted amount.

SEC 6. Public Information Campaign. - The LTO, in coordination with the Philippine
Information Agency (PIA), the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of


Health (DOH), and other relevant stakeholders, shall regularly undertake a nationwide
information and education campaign regarding the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The LTO, in coordination with
the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of Interior and Local
Government (DILG) and other relevant government agencies, in consultation with
relevant stakeholders, shall issue the implementing rules and regulations for the
effective implementation of this Act within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this
Act.

SEC 8. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any section or provision of this Act
is declared invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions hereof which are not affected
thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SEC 9. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, or rules and regulations, which are
inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act, are hereby amended or
repealed.

SEC 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days afer its publication
in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,