SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
1221 
SENATE BILL NO. ___ _ 
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INTRODUCED BY SENATOR JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Texting while driving could be deadly. 
During the first quarter of 2012, the Highway Patrol Group - Philippine 
National Police have recorded the number of about 600 deaths from over 5,000 
road accidents in the country. According to Superintendent Edwin Butacan of 
the HPG-PNP, that the leading factor in road accidents is human error such as 
bad overtaking, bad turning, over speeding and the use of mobile phones while 
driving. 
To add more, the National Statistical Coordination Board recorded 14 
traffic accidents due to cell phone use and 91 due to texting in 2001 to 2006. 
Moreover, according to the US-based National Safety Council, there is at least 
28 percent of all traffic accidents worldwide are linked to cell phone use. This 
US-based non-profit organization reported an annually tally of 1.4 million 
crashes involving the use of mobile phones and 200,000 involving texting 
annually. 
In the United States, studies have conducted pointing the use of hand-
held mobile phones cause accidents that kill thousands of people every year 
aside from creating traffic jams. 
Increased reliance on mobile phones has led to rise in the number of 
people who use the device while driving. There are two dangers associated with 
driving and the use of mobile phones. One, drivers must take their eyes off the 
road while composing, sending and receiving text messages. Two, people can 
become so absorbed in their texting that their ability to concentrate on the act 
of driving is severely impaired, jeopardizing the safety of the vehicle's 
occupants and the pedestrians. 
A lot of countries have already adopted measures to prohibit the use of 
mobile phones while driving and these are Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, 
Botswana, Chile, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, 
Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, 
the Netherland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Singapore, the 
Slovak Republic, Slovania, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, 
Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, the United Kingdom and 
Zimbabwe. 


In the Philippines, except for Quezon City and Makati, which have 
ordinances banning cell phone use while driving, there is no law yet to this 
effect. 
The government should be proactive m order to protect the lives and 
limbs of its citizens from road accidents. 
Thus, with the foregoing reasons, the passage of this bill IS earnestly 
sought. 
JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO 


SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
1221 
Senate Bill No. ___ _ 
H! . 
Introduced by SENATOR JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO 
AN ACT REGULATING THE USE OF HAND-HELD MOBILE 
COMMUNICATION DEVICES WHILE DRIVING AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
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-Mobile 
Communication Devices Use While Driving Act of 2013". 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the 
State to safeguard its citizenry from the ruinous and extremely injurious effects 
of vehicular accidents. While the State recognizes the vital role of information 
and communications technology in nation-building, the State also promotes 
the safety of the public from the acts of persons which have become inimical in 
the exercise and enjoyment of these rights and to regulate such acts. 
Towards this end, it shall pursue a more proactive and preventive 
approach to secure the safety of motorists, their passengers and pedestrians at 
all times by banning the use of mobile communication devices by motorists 
while driving or operating a moving motor vehicle. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the term: 
(a) Diplomatic motor vehicle refers to any motor vehicle leased or owned by 
a foreign mission and its staff for their official use. 
(b) Government motor vehicle refers to any motor vehicle owned by the 
national government or any of its agencies, instrumentalities or political 
subdivisions, including government-owned or -controlled corporations or their 
subsidiaries for official use. 
(c) Implementing agency refers to the Department of Transportation and 
Communications (DOTC)-Land Transportation Office (LTO). 
(d) Mobile communication devices refer to electronic communication 
equipment such as, but not limited to, cellular phones, i-phones, wireless 
telephones, two-way radio transceivers, walkie-talkie, pagers and beepers 
capable of transmitting, receiving, or both, of encrypted data and/ or signals 
through wireless, electronic or any other similar means. 


(e) Motor vehicle refers to engine-driven vehicles such as, but not limited 
to, automobiles, trucks, vans, buses, jeeps, motorcycles and tricycles. 
(f) Motorist refers to a person driving a motor vehicle. 
(g) Private motor vehicle refers to any motor vehicle owned by individuals 
and juridical persons for private use. 
(h) Public motor vehicle refers to a motor vehicle issued by the Land 
Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to operate as a 
public utility vehicle or any vehicle for hire. 
(i) Using a mobile communication device refers to the act of making a call, 
receiving a call or the act of composing, sending or viewing of 2 text and multi-
media messages, including the act of doing internet and other similar 
functions. 
SECTION 4. Ban on the Use of Mobile Communication Devices While 
Driving. - To ensure public safety, it shall be unlawful for any person to use 
hand-held mobile communication device while driving a private or public motor 
vehicle. 
SECTION 5. Extent of Coverage. - Wheeled agricultural machineries such 
as tractors and construction equipment such as graders, rollers, backhoes, 
payloaders, cranes, bulldozers, mobile concrete mixers and the like, and other 
forms of conveyances such as bicycles, pedicabs, habal-habal, trolleys, kuliglig, 
wagons, carriages, carts, sledges, chariots or the like, whether animal or 
human-powered, are covered by the provisions of this Act as long as the same 
are operated or driven in public thoroughfares, highways or streets or under 
circumstances where public safety is under consideration. 
SECTION 6. Exemptions. - The ban shall riot be imposed if the motorist: 
concerned uses a mobile communication device with the aid of a hands-free 
device such as, but not limited to, a speaker phone, earphones and 
microphones or other similar device which allows a person to make and receive 
calls without having to hold the mobile communication device. The provisions 
of this Act shall not apply to persons performing urgent, emergency and official 
functions where such limitations will result to greater injury or impair the 
performance thereof. 
SECTION 7. Nationwide Public Information Campaign. - The DOTC-LTO, 
in coordination with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), the Department of 
Education (DepED), the Department of the Interior and Local Government 
(DILG)-Philippine National Police (PNP) and private agencies and organizations, 
shall undertake a nationwide information, 3 education and communication 
(IEC) campaign for a period of six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act. 
SECTION 8. Penalties. - Any person who shall violate any provision of 
this Act shall be punishable by: 
(a) First offense - a fine of One thousand pesos (Pl,OOO.OO); 
(b) Second offense - a fine of Three thousand pesos (P3,OOO.OO); 
(c) Third offense -
a fine of Five thousand pesos (P5,OOO.OO) and 
suspension of driver's license for three (3) months; and 


, . 
(d) Fourth and succeeding offenses -
a fine of Five thousand pesos 
(P5,000.00) but not more than Ten thousand pesos (PlO,OOO.OO) and 
revocation of driver's license: Provided, That the implementing agency may 
increase the amount of fine herein imposed once every three (3) years in the 
amount not exceeding ten percent (10%) of the existing rates sought to be 
increased. The foregoing penalties shall be without prejudice to the other 
liabilities under the Revised Penal Code, as amended, or any special law, 
arising out or on occasion of the herein prohibited acts. 
SECTION 9. Assistance by Other Agencies. - The Metropolitan Manila 
Development Authority (MMDA), the PNP and other concerned government 
agencies and instrumentalities shall render such assistance as required by the 
implementing agency in order to effectively implement the provisions of this 
Act. 
SECTION 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DOTC-LTO 
shall promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations within 
sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act. 
SECTION 11. Separability Clause. -
If, for any reason, any part or 
provision of this Act is declared invalid, such declaration shall not affect the 
other provisions of this Act. 
SECTION 12. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, issuances, 
rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this 
Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 13. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers 
of general circulation. 
Approved,