.' , 
SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 
2252 
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MAY 28 All:48 
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Introduced by SENATOR JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO 
AN ACT IMPOSING STIFFER PENALTIES ON THE OFFENSE OF 
STEALING OR VANDALIZING GOVERNMENT ROAD SIGNS AND 
OTHER RISKS REDUCTION DEVICES, ACCESSORIES AND OTHER 
FACILITIES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The total number of road accidents and fatalities has been 
increasing through the years. The Philippine National Police (PNP) has 
tallied about 15,000 traffic accidents in 2006 corresponding to an 
average of 41 traffic accidents per day. (NSO, 2008). These accidents 
resulted in 647 fatalities, 3,767 injuries and 10,623 instances of property 
damage. The PNP reported that most traffic accidents are caused mainly 
by driver's errors. In 2006 for example, 4,182 (27%) of car accidents were 
caused by driver error. The use of cell phones while driving is another 
leading cause of traffic accidents representing the highest increase 
among the causes of traffic accidents. 
One cause that induces driver error is the absence of road signs 
warning drivers of impending sharp curves or slippery road or road 
repairs. The main reason for the absence of these road signs installed by 
the Department of Public Works and Highways is that these signs were 
either stolen or damaged/vandalized. The DPWH reported a total of 
42,558 pieces of such devices stolen and vandalized as of January 25, 
2013. 
A study conducted to determine the cost of accidents in Metro 
Manila estimated that Php 3.5 Million is lost per fatal road accident 
showing a clear picture of their economic effects. In addition, social cost 
or pain, grief, and suffering are valued at Php 506,450 per fatal accident. 
(Journal of the Eastern Asia Society for Transportation Studies, Vol. 6, 


pp 3183-3198, 2005). Beyond these costs, the loss of lives are 
incalculable. 
The Revised Penal Code, as amended, defines theft as the taking of 
property of another with violence against or intimidation of persons, with 
intent to gain without the latter's consent. Furthermore, any person has 
committed theft if after having maliciously damaged the property of 
another shall remove and make use of the fruits or object of the damage 
caused by him. 
The Revised Penal Code, as amended, likewise identified theft of 
properties of the National Library and the National Museum as qualified 
theft but does not include theft of traffic signage, warning signs and 
traffic protective devices such as highway or bridge railings. 
The penalties imposed on stolen property depends upon the value 
of the property, which ranges from prision correccional to prision mayor or 
reclusion temporal. These penalties do not fit the offense of theft or 
damage of traffic signages and protective devices because such can cause 
loss of limbs and lives. Stiffer penalties should be imposed not only to 
deter or prevent persons to steal or damage these traffic devices but more 
importantly to protect our people from danger and accidents, or save 
their lives and properties. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this measure is fervently 
requested. 
C5 6-=-: 
JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO 


, 
SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. ____ gg9~_ 
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'14 
MAY 28 All :48 
Introduced by SENATOR JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO 
AN ACT IMPOSING STIFFER PENALTIES ON THE OFFENSE OF 
STEALING OR VANDALIZING GOVERNMENT ROAD SIGNS AND 
OTHER WARNING DEVICES, ACCESSORIES AND OTHER 
FACILITIES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
Republic of the Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Stealing and 
Vandalism of Traffic Signs Act of2014." 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to 
protect the people from damage to property and loss of lives by improving 
conditions of roads and making vehicular traffic as safe as possible by 
providing driver information through signs and accident-prevention 
devices. In pursuit of this end, t.he State has mandated concerned 
government agencies and instrumentalities to install in conspicuous and 
appropriate places road signs and devices to warn drivers of risks and 
dangers on the road. 
SECTION 3. Theft and damage of traffic signs and road safety 
devices. - It shall be unlawful to dismantle, remove, transfer, take into 
possession road warning devices installed by national and local 
governments or non-government organizations for the purpose of 
warning motorists of dangers along the road . 
. SECTION 4. Traffic signs and accident warning devices and 
instruments. - For the purpose of this Act, "traffic signs and accident 
warning devices and instruments" shall mean road or traffic signs 
exemplified by signs of "stop", "yield", "slippery when wet", signs of zig-


'. 
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zag-ing sections of roads, railings, and similar devices. Man-hole covers 
shall also be included as part of accident-prevention devices warning the 
public to avert or prevent the loss of lives and properties and covered 
under this Act. 
The Department of Public Works and Highways shall provide a list 
of all traffic signs and accident reduction / preven tion devices and 
instruments. The list shall be updated as the need arises. 
SECTION 5. Punishable actions undel this Act. - the following 
actions are punishable under this Act: 
(A). Mere possession without authority of any device or instrument 
or piece of equipment listed under Section 4 of this Act or accessories 
thereof; 
(E). Selling or buying of stolen traffic signs and warning devices 
listed under Section 4 of this Act or accessories thereof; and 
(C). Vandalizing or damaging of any road signs or devices listed 
under Section 4 of this Act or any accessories thereof. 
SECTION 6. Penalties. - The following penalties shall apply to 
violations under this Act: 
(A). Stealing of or possessing road signs and warning devices 
including man-hole covers and their accessories. - The penalty of Twelve 
(12) to Fifteen (15) years of imprisonment or a fine ranging from Two 
Hundred Thousand (P 200,000.00) Pesos to Five Hundred Thousand 
Pesos (P 500,000.00) or both, at the discretion of the court, shall be 
imposed on any person found guilty of stealing or in possession of road 
signs and warning devices including man-hole covers as defined in 
Section 4 of this Act; 
(E). Damaging/vandalizing or destroying road signs and warning 
devices including man-hole covers and their accessories. - The penalty of 
Six (6) to Ten (10) years of imprisonment or a fine ranging from One 
Hundred Thousand Pesos (P 100,000.00) to One Hundred Fifty Thousand 
Pesos (P 150,000.00) or both, at the discretion of the court, shall be 
imposed on any person found guilty of damaging/vandalizing or 
destroying road signs and warning devices and their accessories 
including man-hole covers as defined in Section 4 of this Act; 
(C). Selling or buying of road signs and warning devices including 
man-hole covers and their accessories. -- The penalty of selling or buying 


disaster warning and risk reduction instruments and their accessories as 
defined in Section 4 of this Act shall be similar to those under paragraph 
(A) of the same Section of this Act; and 
(D). Government employees as accomplice in the violation of 
provisions of this Act. - Government employees found guilty of this Act 
either as principal or as an accomplice shall be penalized according to 
the same Section of this Act. In addition, such government employee 
shall forfeit all his/her retirement benefits and shall be barred from any 
employment within the government service 
SECTION 7. Incentives. - Incentives shall be provided to a person 
or persons who will provide information leading to the apprehension of 
violators of this Act. The nature and amount of incentives shall be 
provided for in the implementing rules and regulations of this Act. 
SECTION 8. Non-applicability of Articles 308, 309, 310 and 311 of 
the Revised Penal Code. - Articles 308, 309, 310, and 311 of the Revised 
Penal Code, as amended, shall not be applicable to cases contemplated 
or enumerated in this Act. For theft cases the provisions in this Act shall 
apply. 
SECTION 
9. 
Implementing Rules and Regulations. 
..-
The 
Department of Public Works and Highways shall issue within One 
Hundred Eighty (180) days from the date of the approval of this Act, the 
implementing rules and regulations. 
I 
SECTION 10. Separability Clause. - Any portion or provlslOn of 
this Act, which may be declared unconstitutional or invalid shall not 
I 
have the effect of nullifying other portions or provisions hereof. 
SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, ordinances, rules, 
regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent 
of this Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 12. Effectivity Clause, -
This Act shall take effect 
immediately after its publication in two newspapers of general 
circulation. 
Approved,