THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE? PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
SENATE 
S.B.No. 1908 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article XIV, Section 3 (2) provides: 
[All educational institutions] shall inculcate patriotism and nationalism, 
foster love of humanity, respect for human rights, appreciation of the role of 
national heroes in the historical development of the country, teach the rights and 
duties of citizenship, strengthen ethical and spiritual values, develop moral 
character and personal discipline, encourage critical and creative thinking, 
broaden scientific and technological knowledge, and promote vocational 
,-, 
/ 
efficiency. (Emphasis supplied) 
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Without immediate action to improve road safety, the World Health Organization (WHO) 
estimated that road-traffic deaths will increase by 80 percent in low- and middle-income countries 
by 2020 
In developed countries like Japan, aspiring drivers have to enroll in formal driving schools 
to be eligible for a license. In other Asian countries, traffic education is instilled in children 
through training in “traffic cities,” microscopic environments where real-life traffic situations are 
simulated. The kids are also taught how to properly react to each situation 
1 
In the Philippines, road-traffic accidents are already one of the country’s biggest killers, 
with children the most at risk. The main reason is that majority of our motorists have not 
undergone proper training. Most teenagers who make up the bulk of newly licensed drivers 
probably do not even know the meaning of the color yellow in a traffic light cluster. The reason 
behind this is that anyone who’s willing and able to pay can secure a driver’s license even without 
enough knowledge of traffic signs rules and regulations 
i 
According to the UNICEF report 012. the prevention of road-traffic injuries, more than 
4,000 people die each year at a cost of at least $894 million, or 1.2 percent of the Philippines’ 
Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This report also pronounced that road accidents are growing to be 
the leading cause of death among Filipinos. It is the third leading cause of death in the 15-44 age 
. 


group. They also have surveys saying that for every 100,000 population, 1,4 14 from the 0- 17 age 
group die in road-traffic accidents. A big percent of that comes from the 1-4 age group. 
Road courtesy should be a way of life that needs to be ingrained in all potential road users 
as early a stage as childhood. And so our first goal is to help develop a training course specially 
targeted at elementary and high school students. Young people are the easiest ones to teach - and 
with positive results. Docility is a crucial factor here. It may be too late to train those who are 
already pushing 20, at which stage they have already imbibed so many bad habits and wrong 
concepts. 
This bill seeks to make road traffic-safety rules and signs a separate subject and 
compulsory at grade six and fourth year high school levels. It is the most serious and 
comprehensive national road-safety strategy and plan of action the government can devise. 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
S.B. No. 
9 0 8 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
TO MAKE ROAD TRAFFIC SAFETY RULES AND SIGNS 
A SEPARATE SUBJECT AND COMPULSORY AT GRADE SIX AND FOURTH YEAR 
HIGH SCHOOL LEVELS 
0 
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 “Road Traffic Safety for 
Children Act of 2005.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to impress upon the 
students the importance o f  road traffic safety situation in the Philippines. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - 
As used in this Act, the following terms: 
1. “Road Traffic” - refers to the separate subject that teach either basic and/or advanced 
learning on safety driving, road hazards, driving rules and offenses, and use of traffic signs. 
2. “DepEd” -refers to the Department of Education. 
3. “UP-NCTSFI” - refers to University of the Philippines National Center for Transport 
Studies Foundation, Inc. 
4. “Grade school students” -refers to Grade six (6) of primary education. 
5. “High school students” -refers to fourth (4‘4 year of secondary education. 
SECTION 4. Teaching of a Separate and Compulsory Subject Called Road Trafic. - The 
teaching of a separate and compulsory subject called Road Traffic shall he included at grade six 
and fourth yetar high school levels. 
0 


SECTION 5. Teaching Module on Road Trafic. - 
1. BASIC ROAD TRAFFIC. - 
There shall be a teaching module of basic learning on 
road traffic safety designed for grade school students which includes the following topics: 
a. IMPORTANCE OF ROAD SAFETY. - 
i. HAZARDS ON THE ROAD. - 
GENERAL OBJECTIVES: (aa) to present the 
traffic safety situation in the Philippines focusing on the main causes and victims of 
traffic accidents and; (bb) to enable students to realize the importance of road safety 
awareness, given the current road safety situation in the Philippines. 
ii. AFTERMATH OF ACCIDENTS. - 
GENERAL OBJECTIVE: to enable students 
to realize that traffic accidents could have far-reaching effects not only on the victim 
but on his family as well. 
iii. ACCIDENTS PREVENTION. -GENERAL 
OBJECTIVE: to impress upon 
students that accidents are preventable. 
b. SAFE COMMUTE TO AND FROM SCHOOL. - 
i. PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLISTS. - GENERAL OBJECTIVES: (aa) to observe 
safety rules, traffic signs and signals important to pedestrians and cyclists and; (bb) to 
develop in students constant vigilance of traffic from unexpected places when using 
the streets. 
ii. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. - 
GENERAL OBJECTIVES: (aa) to identify the 
different public transport modes that can be used to go to and from school; (bb) to 
know where and when students can safely get on and off the different public transport 
rides and; (cc) to learn the safety features of the different public transport modes. 
iii. PRIVATE VEHICLE AND SCHOOL TRANSPORT SERVICES. - 
GENERAL 
OBJECTIVES: (aa) to enable the students to understand better the dangers involved 
when commuting to school and; (bb) to allow students to develop correct attitude and 
behavior towards safety when coming to and from school. 
c. TRAFFIC ACCIDENT-FREE. - 
GENERAL OBJECTIVES: (aa) to create awareness 
in students that some recreational activities could expose them and others to traffic hazard 
and; (bb) to equip students with knowledge and guidelines on how to practice road safety 
when doing recreational activities. 


2. ADVANCED ROAD TRAFFIC. - 
There shall he a teaching module of advanced 
learning on road traffic safety designed for high school students which includes the following 
topics: 
a. IMPORTANCE OF ROAD SAFETY. - 
i. HAZARDS ON THE ROAD. - 
GENERAL OBJECTIVES: (aa) to present the 
traffic safety situation in the Philippines focusing on the main causes and victims of 
traffic accidents and; @b) to enable students to realize the importance of road safety 
awareness, given the current road safety situation in the Philippines. 
ii. AFTERMATH OF ACCIDENTS. - 
GENERAL OBJECTIVE: to enable students 
to realize that traffic accidents could have far-reaching effects not only on the victim 
but on his family as well. 
iv. ACCIDENTS PREVENTION. - 
GENERAL OBJECTIVE: to help students to 
realize that accidents are preventable. 
b. THE ROAD, VEHICLE, SAFETY, AND YOU. - 
i. ROAD SAFETY FACILITIES AND TRAFFIC SIGNS. - GENERAL 
OBJECTIVE: to enable students to recognize signs and use available road safety 
facilities properly. 
ii. SAFE COMMUTE TO AND FROM SCHOOL. - 
GENERAL OBJECTIVES: to 
enable students to (aa) apply safety precautiondmeasures to minimize traffic-related 
accidents at a11 times; (bb) observe traffic safety rules and traffic signs and signals at 
all times, important to pedestrians, cyclists, and commuters and; (cc) develop constant 
vigilance of traffic from unexpected places when using the streets. 
iii. VEHICLE SAFETY FEATURES. - GENERAL OBJECTIVE: to convince 
students to use the safety features in cars, motorcycles, jeepneys, and buses. 
iv. DEFENSIVE DRIVING. - 
GENERAL OBJECTIVE: to enable the students to 
understand the 3 P’s(philosophy, principles, and practice) of defensive driving. 
c. RULES THAT ENSURE SAFETY. - 
GENERAL OBJECTIVE: to enable the students 
to become law abiding drivers in the future. 


SECTION 6. Implementing Agency. - The DepEd Secretary is hereby authorized and 
directed to adopt a system to implement and carry out the provisions of this Act. The DepEd shall, 
within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, promulgate rules and regulations, including 
those of disciplinary nature, to carry out and enforce the provisions of this Act. 
SECTION 7. Coordimzting Agency. - 
The UP-NCTSFI is hereby authorized to assist the 
DepEd in designing the teaching module on road traffic safety. 
SECTION 8. Educational Materials. - It shall be obligatory on all grade schools and 
high schools to keep in their libraries an adequate number of copies of the textbook, primer, and 
leaflet on Road Traffic to be issued by the DepEd. The DepEd shall determine the adequacy of the 
number of books, depending upon the enrollment of the grade school and high school students. 
SECTION 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
I i 
SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, Ale or regulation contrary to, or inconsistent 
with, the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 11. Efectivily Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen days (15) days after 
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,